/ 14 January 2008

NPA meets to consider Selebi options

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will meet this week to discuss how to proceed with their case against police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi, a spokesperson said.

”The NPA is meeting this week to consider its options,” said Tlali Tlali.

On Friday Selebi failed to secure an urgent application in the Pretoria High Court to stop the investigation against him.

President Thabo Mbeki’s announced on Saturday that Selebi, who faces allegations of corruption, fraud, racketeering and defeating the course of justice, was going on extended leave of absence.

Selebi also quit as head of international crime-fighting body Interpol, the organisation said on Sunday.

Tlali said the state and Selebi’s legal team were expected to meet the judge president to secure a date to hear argument on the matter, after Selebi’s application to have it heard urgently failed.

The options the NPA would consider during its meeting this week were whether to go ahead with the Selebi matter regardless of Selebi’s outstanding application, or to wait for the court to pronounce on it. Dates for either of the planned meetings were not available.

The NPA has said it would let Selebi know when it planned to make a move.

”He will not be cuffed,” said Tlali.

On Friday the court heard that Selebi would be charged with corruption and defeating the course of justice, or attempting to do so.

Meanwhile, Gerrie Nel, the lead investigator in the Selebi case, will return to the Pretoria High Court on Monday after his arrest last Tuesday night on charges including corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

He led the investigations into the shooting of corrupt mining magnate Brett Kebble and Selebi.

On Wednesday his legal team brought an urgent application to the court to secure his release.

It was postponed indefinitely, giving his team a chance to bring a late afternoon bail application. He was released on R10 000 bail and the case against him was postponed to Monday.

Regarding how this would affect the Selebi investigation, Tlali said: ”His position and his status in the team has not changed.” – Sapa