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| SA police chief appears in court | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| South Africa's suspended police commissioner Jackie Selebi has appeared in court on corruption charges. | |
| The prosecutor read him the charges: corruption, accepting bribes worth 1.2m rand ($160,000, £80,000) and defeating the course of justice. | The prosecutor read him the charges: corruption, accepting bribes worth 1.2m rand ($160,000, £80,000) and defeating the course of justice. |
| Mr Selebi was not required to plead but he has previously denied the charges. | Mr Selebi was not required to plead but he has previously denied the charges. |
| The magistrate agreed to postpone the case until June 26 to give prosecutors more time to complete investigations. | The magistrate agreed to postpone the case until June 26 to give prosecutors more time to complete investigations. |
| Mr Selebi is a close ally of President Thabo Mbeki, who has been accused of trying to protect him. | Mr Selebi is a close ally of President Thabo Mbeki, who has been accused of trying to protect him. |
| I maintain I am innocent of the alleged offences and will plead not guilty to the charges Jackie Selebi Claims of corruption and dirty tricks hit South Africa | I maintain I am innocent of the alleged offences and will plead not guilty to the charges Jackie Selebi Claims of corruption and dirty tricks hit South Africa |
| A spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) told the BBC that Mr Selebi had not been formally charged, despite the court appearance. | |
| The BBC's Peter Greste says Mr Selebi arrived at the Randburg magistrates court wearing a grey suit and in an unmarked car, stripped of the trappings that go with his title. | The BBC's Peter Greste says Mr Selebi arrived at the Randburg magistrates court wearing a grey suit and in an unmarked car, stripped of the trappings that go with his title. |
| As he walked in he waved and smiled to the media before taking his seat for the accused inside the court. | As he walked in he waved and smiled to the media before taking his seat for the accused inside the court. |
| In an affidavit requesting bail, he promised not to interfere with witnesses or evidence. | In an affidavit requesting bail, he promised not to interfere with witnesses or evidence. |
| "I maintain I am innocent of the alleged offences and will plead not guilty to the charges," he said in the affidavit. | "I maintain I am innocent of the alleged offences and will plead not guilty to the charges," he said in the affidavit. |
| The commissioner was placed on leave and forced to resign as head of Interpol after the NPA said he would be charged last month. | |
| At the heart of the allegations is Mr Selebi's relationship with convicted drug smuggler, Glen Agliotti, who is also being charged with the murder of a prominent mining magnate. | At the heart of the allegations is Mr Selebi's relationship with convicted drug smuggler, Glen Agliotti, who is also being charged with the murder of a prominent mining magnate. |
| The NPA has alleged that Glen Agliotti paid bribes and gifts to the police commissioner in exchange for turning a blind eye to drugs trafficking. | The NPA has alleged that Glen Agliotti paid bribes and gifts to the police commissioner in exchange for turning a blind eye to drugs trafficking. |
| Last year, Mr Mbeki suspended NPA chief prosecutor Vusi Pikoli after he issued a warrant for the arrest of Mr Selebi, a senior member of the ruling African National Congress. | Last year, Mr Mbeki suspended NPA chief prosecutor Vusi Pikoli after he issued a warrant for the arrest of Mr Selebi, a senior member of the ruling African National Congress. |