Taxpayers Pay Millions for Awaiting - Trial Police Chief

NATIONAL police commissioner Jackie Selebi, who is due to stand trial next year for corruption and defeating the ends of justice, will be costing taxpayers millions of rands until then.

Selebi, who went on voluntary leave in January, had his employment contract extended by President Thabo Mbeki for 12 months this week.

This means that for the next year Selebi will be paid to do nothing while the state pays for the costs of his criminal trial.

Opposition parties expressed disgust at Selebi's contract being extended, saying it was yet another indication of Mbeki's bias toward the controversial police chief.

It could not be confirmed yesterday how much Selebi is being paid, but in 2006 he was getting R904374, according to a reply to a parliamentary question. With the 7,5% pay increase public servants received last year plus this year's 10,5% increase , Selebi's pay could add up to more than R1,2m.

The taxpayer will also have to pay for his trial, set down from April 14 until June 19 in the Johannesburg High Court.

According to sources in the state attorney's office, the taxpayer could expect to cough up about R30000 a day for the trial. It is understood that Selebi's senior counsel, Jaap Cilliers, charges about R12000 a day while his junior, Fanus Coetzee, charges about two-thirds of that. His attorneys would cost about R10000 a day.

Political parties said yesterday the state should not foot the bill because the charges did not relate to the performance of Selebi's duties so he should pay his own legal fees. Selebi is accused of receiving dodgy payments of about R1,2m.

Freedom Front Plus MP Pieter Groenewald said the extension of Selebi's contract was "proof" that Mbeki was protecting him and so abusing the taxpayers' money.

"Selebi's contract would have lapsed at the end of June 2008, and normal practice is to appoint the national police commissioner for a period of five years. The deviation in only extending his contract for 12 months is further proof of President Mbeki favouring Selebi.

"Taxpayers already have to foot the bill for Selebi's legal costs, and now they also have to keep him in the employ of the state so that he may continue with his luxurious lifestyle," said Groenewald.

Also criticising the extension of the police chief's contract was Democratic Alliance spokesman Frits de Klerk.

"Selebi will be paid close to a million rand to do nothing at the same time thousands of honest, hard-working police members have to survive on R4000 per month. This is an absolute disgrace," he said.