November 09, 2006 Edition 4
Alex Eliseev
The Independent Complaints Directorate, with help from Britain's New Scotland Yard, have cleared national police commissioner Jackie Selebi of allegations he is connected to criminal activity.
The ICD's Tommy Tshabalala said yesterday the police watchdog body had concluded two investigations into Selebi and were not probing him further.
Tshabalala, the ICD's programme manager of investigations, said Scotland Yard Detective Superintendent Cliff Lyons had been roped into the Selebi investigation because of his "extensive experience in corruption cases in the United Kingdom".
Lyons was in South Africa to help the ICD establish its anti- corruption unit.
The Star has a four-page letter, prepared by Lyons and dated February 15 2005, sent to Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula by then head of the ICD, advocate Karen McKenzie.
It reports that the ICD had completed its investigation into Selebi and had found that allegations against him "cannot be substantiated" and the matter was closed.
The ICD's findings showed that "allegations of attempts on the life of (former airport security chief Paul) O'Sullivan proved to be inconclusive"; "material provided to the ICD, details of descriptions of vehicles and suspects involved, are lacking"; and the witnesses provided by O'Sullivan "did not progress the evidential part of this investigation".
In a 750-page docket, former Airports Company of SA (Acsa) head of security O'Sullivan alleged that Selebi was the boss of a "cop mafia" and took bribes (including a payment of R50 000).
He said the police commissioner tried to prevent the cancellation of a R130-million security contract at O R Tambo Airport of a firm allegedly linked to Selebi.
O'Sullivan also accused other senior police bosses of being corrupt.
Tshabalala said the main stumbling block in probing O'Sullivan's allegation was his lack of co-operation and a lack of witnesses.
"We cannot proceed until someone can corroborate the information. To date O'Sullivan has not been able to provide the names of the key witness."
O'Sullivan, who was dismissed from his position as Acsa's security chief, claimed Selebi tried to stop him firing the Khuselani company, headed by Noel Ngwenya, in 2001.
He also said Selebi had intimidated him and that there had been attempts on his life.
Yesterday, O'Sullivan claimed that the ICD had "whitewashed the matter" and had not responded to his calls and letters.
"Since it had come to my attention that everything I gave to the ICD was passed on to Selebi, I declined to name certain important witnesses.
"This was to protect those against certain murder, until such time as the ICD could restore my faith in them," O'Sullivan said.
"They did not do this. Quite the opposite - the ICD whitewashed the matter.
"I have passed the witness details to the Scorpions and they are busy with these aspects."
Selebi called a media conference in Pretoria on Sunday and said: "These hands are clean. I am not involved in any criminality."
He accused O'Sullivan of launching a smear campaign against him.
Yesterday, Selebi's spokesperson, Director Sally de Beer, said: "The commissioner has always maintained his innocence and those who work with him on a daily basis never doubted it for a moment.
"We are glad that documents are coming to light to support this."
Interpol, of which Selebi is president, has also come to his defence.
"Under his leadership, Interpol has helped police arrest more fugitives worldwide, share more information and co-operate more effectively than at any time in its history," a statement said.