South Africa INTERPOL Chief Corruption Trial Opens

Selebi resigned as head of Interpol after he was charged with having links to organised crime and accepting bribes worth USD 1,2 M. Photo by daylife.com

South Africa's former chief of police Jackie Selebi has pleaded not guilty at the start of his corruption trial.

Selebi resigned as head of Interpol after he was charged with having links to organised crime and accepting bribes worth USD 1,2 M.

He will be the most senior member of the ruling African National Congress to face corruption charges.

Charges against ANC leader Jacob Zuma were dropped shortly before he became president after elections in April.

During the case at Johannesburg's High Court, prosecutors will seek to prove that Selebi, 58, received corrupt payments over a five-year period.