This article reminded me of this thread.South Africa's former police chief, Jackie Selebi, was found guilty Friday of corruption resulting from his relationship with a convicted drug trafficker, the state news agency in South Africa reported.
Selebi will face 15 years in prison when he is sentenced July 14.
After a 4 1/2-year trial, Judge Meyer Joffe rejected Selebi's defense that there had been a conspiracy against him, although he acquitted Selebi on a charge of defeating the ends of justice, according to the SAPA news agency.
South Africa's ruling African National Congress party said the verdict "clearly indicates that South Africa as a country is governed by laws that are applied without any fear or favor to anyone, regardless of their standing."
Selebi was until recently one of the most powerful political figures in South Africa. He served as president of Interpol from 2004 to 2008 and was a close ally of former South African President Thabo Mbeki.
His relationship with drug baron Glenn Agliotti was no secret. Asked about it at a news conference once, Selebi famously said, "He's my friend. Finished and klaar" -- an Afrikaans term meaning "that's the end of it."
The court found Selebi gave favors to Agliotti in exchange for money and expensive clothes.
Can anyone remember the last time a leader of the FBI was convicted of corruption? Does the possibility of a person in Interpol, appointed from an under developed country more susceptible to corruption, with more information about U.S. citizens seem a bit dangerous?
