Selebi appeal process on track

The preliminary work ahead of former national police commissioner Jackie Selebi’s appeal appears to be on track, with his lawyers saying on Wednesday that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has filed an answering affidavit.

“We can confirm that the NPA has filed their answering affidavit in the appeal matter concerning our client,” said Selebi’s attorney, Wynanda Coetzee.

It was filed by the director of public prosecutions for South Gauteng, and compiled by Andrew Leask, a chief special investigator.

NPA spokesperson advocate Mthunzi Mhaga confirmed the replying affidavit had been filed.

Coetzee added they still had not heard from the NPA regarding a complaint lodged by themselves and the South African Revenue Service regarding allegations of irregularity levelled at certain NPA officials. The allegations related to an investigation into the tax affairs of convicted drug-trafficker Glenn Agliotti, the state’s main witness during Selebi’s trial.

Selebi was found guilty of corruption and sentenced to 15 years in jail as a result of Judge Meyer Joffe’s findings that Selebi received payments from Agliotti.

Selebi was granted leave to appeal the issue of the payments on Monday, and would take the matter to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein.—Sapa