Police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi’s office on Monday would not comment on a newspaper report that he was involved in criminal activities, saying the information was stale and had already been commented on.
”Beeld newspaper’s lead article today [Monday], which was obviously regarded as a huge scoop, actually relates to documents which have been in the possession of — and reported on — by other media for the past 18 months,” said Selebi’s spokesperson Director Sally de Beer.
”The documents, which form part of a dossier put together by the person named in Beeld‘s article today [Monday], were delivered to newspapers and other media as early as April 2006.
”The contents have been reported on widely, including in the Saturday Star of July 15 2006 and the Sunday Independent of July 16 2006. It was even the subject of a press conference hosted by the national commissioner on Sunday November 5 2006, over a year ago!”
At that press conference, according to the South African Press Association, Selebi dismissed claims of criminal activity against him as a smear campaign to remove him from office.
”I don’t do crime; I am not corrupt,” said Selebi in reaction to a front-page report in the Sunday Times and articles in Rapport implicating him, his deputy Commissioner Andre Pruis and other senior police officers in criminal activity.
”All of these stories that I have read have got no bearing on the truth. All kinds of falsehoods and what people call leakages are made [against] my name,” he said.
De Beer said the contents of the documents would probably have formed part of the review process by a panel of four appointed by advocate Mokotedi Mpshe, acting prosecutions head. An announcement on the matter could take place ”this week, but not today”, said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Tlali Tlali. De Beer said Selebi would therefore not comment on the documents.
The Mail & Guardian reported on Friday that Selebi could be charged as early as this week, should the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) have its way. A range of sources with knowledge of the investigation said the panel appointed to review the decision to charge Selebi concurred that he had a case to answer.
The review panel has submitted its report to Mpshe, who appointed the panel to advise him on the decision originally taken by Vusi Pikoli, his suspended predecessor, to charge Selebi.
On Monday, Beeld reported that a 141-page document had come to light containing statements collected by former Airports Company South Africa security boss Paul O’ Sullivan as part of his private investigation on Selebi.
The dossier was given to the Scorpions and reportedly contains allegations of criminal activities against Selebi and a trail of alleged organised criminal acts committed by Glenn Agliotti, with the help of Selebi.
Neither Agliotti nor Selebi would comment about the file when approached by Beeld.
Agliotti reached a plea agreement with the Scorpions last week and was found guilty of drug dealing. He was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, suspended for five years, as well as an admission-of-guilt fine of R300 000, and a payment of R200 000 to the asset forfeiture unit.