Jackie Selebi

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]}