Jackie Selebi

Jacob "Jackie" Sello Selebi
President of Interpol
In office
2004–2008
Preceded byJesús Espigares Mira
Succeeded by
National Commissioner of the South African Police Service
In office
2000–2009
Preceded byGeorge Fivaz
Succeeded byBheki Cele
Personal details
Born(1950-03-07)7 March 1950
Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa
Died23 January 2015(2015-01-23) (aged 64)
Pretoria, South Africa
Spouse
Anne Selebi
(Unknown)

Jacob "Jackie" Sello Selebi (7 March 1950 – 23 January 2015)[1][2] was the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service from January 2000 to January 2008, when he was put on extended leave and charged with corruption. He was also a former President of African National Congress Youth League, South African ambassador to the United Nations from 1995 to 1998, and President of Interpol from 2004 to 2008.[2] Selebi was found guilty of corruption on 2 July 2010 and sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment on 3 August 2010.[3][4] However, he was released on medical parole in July 2012, after serving less than a year of his sentence,[5] and lived at home until his death on 23 January 2015.[6]

An anti-apartheid activist in his youth, Selebi was a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and a political ally of former President Thabo Mbeki.[7][8][9] He is among the most senior members of the ANC to be subject to criminal corruption charges. His investigation and trial, which together lasted over five years, received significant public attention, and were highly political sensitive. On some views, the trial contributed to the politicisation of the South African criminal justice system, particularly by contributing to the marginalisation and ultimately the disbanding of the Scorpions, the elite unit of the National Prosecuting Agency which had pursued Selebi.[10][11][12][13]

  1. ^ "Statement on the appoint of new Director-General for Foreign Affairs". Department of Foreign Affairs. 28 May 1998. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2006.
  2. ^ a b Fox, Margalit (24 January 2015). "Jackie Selebi, South Africa Police Head Convicted in Bribery Case, Dies at 64". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  3. ^ Lapper, Richard (2 July 2010). "Former S Africa police chief guilty of graft". Financial Times. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  4. ^ "15 years jail time for Jackie Selebi". The Sowetan. 3 August 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Mbeki tackles 'trust me on Jackie Selebi' scandal in latest missive defending his presidency". The Sowetan. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  8. ^ Russell, Alec (9 January 2008). "Row as S Africa prosecutor arrested". Financial Times. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Ex-SA police chief 'took bribes'". BBC. 6 October 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  10. ^ "Scorpions disbanding unconstitutional". The Mail & Guardian. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Axe hangs over elite S Africa crime squad". Financial Times. 17 January 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  12. ^ Newham, Gareth (9 July 2010). "The Rule of Law in SA Weakened Since Selebi Investigation". ISS Africa. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Selebi case like a crime novel". BBC News. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2021.