Publication: Business Day Issued: Date: 2008-01-17 Reporter: Hajra Omarjee Reporter: Sapa

Taxpayers Liable to Foot the Bill for Selebi's Defence

 

Publication 

Business Day
Date 2008-01-17
Reporter Hajra Omarjee, Sapa
Web Link www.bday.co.za



Suspended national police commissioner Jackie Selebi has one less worry. Should he apply for state legal assistance for his coming corruption trial, it is expected to be approved by the state attorney, meaning it will be taxpayer s footing the bill for his defence.

Yesterday, Selebi's lawyers were informed by prosecutors that he must appear in the Randburg Regional Court on January 30. Selebi and his legal team will meet today to discuss the date. A decision could be finalised by noon, said Selebi's advocate, Fanus Coetzee.

Early this month, President Thabo Mbeki acceded to Selebi's request for extended leave , with full pay, after it was announced the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) planned to charge SA's police chief with corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

He allegedly received payments, to the tune of R1,2m , from convicted drug dealer Glenn Agliotti, turning a blind eye to drug smuggling, and gave key information about police activity to suspected criminals.

The state attorney recently approved funding for legal defence to apartheid-era germ-warfare expert Wouter Basson , apartheid-era policeman Eugene de Kock and African National Congress president Jacob Zuma in criminal matters, despite all three being accused of crimes while in office. *1

Also, because Selebi is employed in the safety and security department, should the state attorney approve legal aid, Selebi's defence would be funded from the coffers of the department responsible for fighting crime.

Government sources said yesterday Selebi would be entitled to legal help if he, like Zuma, motivated that he was being "attacked" due to his office.

"According to Act 56 of 1957, the state attorney can provide legal assistance to anyone that works for the state, based on their motivation and the state attorney's discretion. The justice minister also has veto powers in such a matter ," the source said.

It is understood that, because Selebi is already being represented by highly regarded advocate Jaap Cilliers, if the state attorney approves funding, Cilliers would probably be retained as his counsel.

"Common sense says it would be pointless to bring another lawyer in, even if cheaper, as he or she would need to start from scratch," the source said.

Cilliers has represented Basson and former security policeman Gideon Nieuwoudt.

Yesterday, the justice department said it had not seen any application by Selebi for legal aid.

The application would have to be approved by acting national police commissioner Tim Williams before it is considered by either the state attorney or Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla.

It is understood that, if Selebi's defence is funded by the state and he is found guilty, the state attorney would be entitled to recover costs *2.

With acknowledgements to Hajra Omarjee, Sapa and Business Day.
 


*1       These cases all different.

Despite the allegations of heinous crimes against Wouter Basson, Eugene de Kock and Gideon Niewoudt, no one can credibly say that their conduct was not conduct undertaken on behalf of The State, albeit a cruel and viscous state.

This is quite different to the case of Jacob Zuma.

No one can credibly say Zuma received money from Shaik or Thomson-CSF while going about his official state duties.

No one can credibly say Zuma received money from Thomson-CSF because it was his official duty to protect them from the Arms Deal investigation and nuture them in the future by getting further State contracts (like GBADS). Such conduct is more akin to treason than state duty.

Regarding Selebi, getting money, shoes and handbags for his girlfriend from a now convicted major recreational drug dealer has got absolutely nothing to do with the statutory duties of the national commissioner of police, even in the Republic of South Africa, post 1994 or any other time during or prior to that.

Sharing with a drug dealer top secret information derived from the National Intelligence Estimate complied "For Your Eyes Only" by the National Intelligence Agency in order for the former to escape justice rather than arresting him on the spot, is also not within the job description of the national commissioner of police, even of the Republic of South Africa, even if he were a chimpanzee or chacma baboon or orangutan or vervet monkey or lowlife eastern gorilla any other primate masquerading as the the national commissioner of police, even of the Republic of South Africa.


*2      But this is just so much nonsense.

Zuma now has no cares in the world about his legal costs and will spend anything it takes to play legal games with his accusers, The State on behalf The People.

Now Selebi can do just the same as Zuma.

And if they do lose and have spent far more money than they have of their own, what can one do?

Throw them in debtor's prison?

The government is cynically wasting our hard-earned tax money on these scoundrels they are all scoundrels.


Are there barf buckets in Wagga Wagga?