Controversial South African police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi received praise in glowing terms on Monday for his role in international policing.
As Interpol president, Selebi has ”ensured that Interpol and its member countries remain at the cutting edge” in several respects, said Interpol secretary general Ronald K Noble.
He was speaking at the opening of the 16th Interpol Symposium for Heads of Police Training in Johannesburg.
Noble told delegates they would not have been able to achieve half of the ”major initiatives” currently under way at Interpol without Selebi.
This includes a unanimous agreement among member countries’ police services to open the first global Anti-Corruption Academy in Vienna, Austria.
”Without Jackie Selebi we would not have able to put in place the world’s most-comprehensive bio-terrorism prevention training programme for police, which trained 301 law-enforcement officials from 115 countries,” Noble said.
Selebi was also lauded for what was described as his willingness to always help member countries with his support or the support of the South African Police Service.
Noble said Selebi offered Interpol the services of police Deputy National Commissioner Andre Pruis to help with security training of the nine Caribbean host countries of the upcoming Cricket World Cup.
”South Africa will also provide 70 police officers to ensure ground support for the host countries during the event itself.”
In South Africa, Selebi came under fire late last year for his friendship with businessman Glenn Agliotti, who subsequently became a suspect in the investigation into the murder of South African mining magnate Brett Kebble.
Opposition political parties have called for an investigation into and the dismissal of Selebi after allegations that he was well aware of an investigation into the alleged crimes of Agliotti.
However, the nine provincial police commissioners and metro police heads came out in support of Selebi and expressed ”anger and disgust” at ongoing media allegations that Selebi may be linked to criminal activity. — Sapa