Disgraced former police chief Jackie Selebi, taken from prison to undergo tests on Monday, is in a “quite serious” condition, his lawyer said.
Selebi’s visit to Pretoria’s Steve Biko Hospital was to do with the medical condition he suffered when he arrived at Pretoria Central Prison a week ago, Wynanda Coetzee told South African Press Association.
“It’s quite serious,” she said.
“It will not get better.”
Earlier on Monday afternoon correctional services spokesperson Sibongile Khumalo confirmed he had gone to hospital.
“He is a sick man and, being sick, he must undergo tests,” she said without divulging any further details.
Selebi was booked into prison last Monday to start a 15-year jail term. He was found guilty of corruption for accepting money from convicted drug trafficker Glenn Agliotti and for giving Agliotti benefits such as showing him a British drug investigation report. Selebi was president of Interpol at the time.
His appeal against his corruption conviction failed in the Supreme Court of Appeal on Friday, December 2.
Selebi watched the judgment on television at his home and collapsed when he heard the outcome, Coetzee said at the time. — Sapa