JOHANNESBURG – South Africa's former police chief has pleaded not guilty to charges of corruption and accepting a bribe from a convicted drug smuggler.
Jackie Selebi told the court Monday he was a victim of a conspiracy at the start of his long-awaited trial.
The former Interpol president went on a leave of absence when he was charged in February 2007. His contract was not renewed in July and a successor was named.
A former anti-apartheid activist, Selebi is an ally of former President Thabo Mbeki. Many accused Mbeki of shielding Selebi from prosecution.
A number of high-ranking South African officials have been caught up in corruption allegations, harming the country's efforts to fight one of the world's worst crime rates.
