Selebi's medical parole application 'doesn't exist'

The appeal made by the Friends of Jackie Selebi to have the former national police commissioner released on medical parole is non-existent, SABC news reported on Monday.

“It doesn’t exist ... as far as I am concerned, it does not exist,” Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told the broadcaster.

“It does not exist on my desk and it does not exist on the commissioner’s desk.”

The group said it had lodged a formal application with the correctional services minister and the national commissioner of correctional services about three weeks ago.

The minister said if the department allowed all appeals to proceed in this way, it would open the floodgates for all sick inmates in the country’s prisons.

Selebi was found guilty of corruption in July 2010 and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.

He watched the judgment on television at his home and collapsed when he heard the outcome.

Selebi was being treated at the Steve Biko Academic hospital for kidney related illnesses.

On Saturday, department spokesperson Zacharia Modise said Selebi was in a stable condition.—Sapa

For coverage of former police chief Jackie Selebi’s corruption trial and aftermath, visit our special report.