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| Court clears top SA investigator | Court clears top SA investigator |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A South African court has withdrawn charges against the man investigating police chief Jackie Selebi. | A South African court has withdrawn charges against the man investigating police chief Jackie Selebi. |
| Gerrie Nel, a senior member of the Scorpions special investigations unit, was arrested by police last week on corruption charges. | Gerrie Nel, a senior member of the Scorpions special investigations unit, was arrested by police last week on corruption charges. |
| Mr Selebi, who denies any wrongdoing, has been suspended from duty, and has resigned as the president of Interpol. | Mr Selebi, who denies any wrongdoing, has been suspended from duty, and has resigned as the president of Interpol. |
| Prosecutors say he will be indicted on charges of corruption over his friendship with a drugs smuggler. | Prosecutors say he will be indicted on charges of corruption over his friendship with a drugs smuggler. |
| The BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg says Mr Nel, the head of the Scorpions in Gauteng Province, appeared in the dock for just a few minutes. | The BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg says Mr Nel, the head of the Scorpions in Gauteng Province, appeared in the dock for just a few minutes. |
| It was then announced that all charges against him were being dropped. | It was then announced that all charges against him were being dropped. |
| He had been arrested at his home in Pretoria last Tuesday by around 20 armed police officers. | He had been arrested at his home in Pretoria last Tuesday by around 20 armed police officers. |
| Mr Nel's lawyer said that his client now just wanted to get back to work. | Mr Nel's lawyer said that his client now just wanted to get back to work. |
| The arrest last week was widely seen as part of the fierce rivalry that exists between the Scorpions and the police - which are independent of one another. | The arrest last week was widely seen as part of the fierce rivalry that exists between the Scorpions and the police - which are independent of one another. |
| The opposition Democratic Alliance is calling for an independent inquiry into why Mr Nel was arrested by the police last week. | |
| 'Corrupt relationship' | |
| The National Prosecuting Authority says it will charge Mr Selebi with corruption and "defeating the ends of justice". | The National Prosecuting Authority says it will charge Mr Selebi with corruption and "defeating the ends of justice". |
| An indictment is expected to be served on him soon. | An indictment is expected to be served on him soon. |
| He is alleged to have received $170,000 (£90,000) from a convicted criminal. | He is alleged to have received $170,000 (£90,000) from a convicted criminal. |
| South Africa's chief prosecutor alleges that Mr Selebi had a "generally corrupt relationship" with businessman Glen Agliotti - a convicted drug smuggler who is also accused of involvement in the 2005 murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble. | South Africa's chief prosecutor alleges that Mr Selebi had a "generally corrupt relationship" with businessman Glen Agliotti - a convicted drug smuggler who is also accused of involvement in the 2005 murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble. |
| Mr Selebi is said to be close to South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, who has resisted calls for his police commissioner to be fired. | Mr Selebi is said to be close to South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, who has resisted calls for his police commissioner to be fired. |
| He said he would not take any action until evidence of Mr Selebi's wrongdoing was brought before him. | He said he would not take any action until evidence of Mr Selebi's wrongdoing was brought before him. |
| But on Saturday he put Mr Selebi on an extended leave of absence. | But on Saturday he put Mr Selebi on an extended leave of absence. |
| Mr Selebi was elected president of Interpol for a four-year term in 2004. | Mr Selebi was elected president of Interpol for a four-year term in 2004. |