Former national police chief Jackie Selebi pleaded not guilty in the High Court in Johannesburg on Monday morning as his long-awaited corruption trial finally started.
Selebi, dressed in a grey suit, solemnly stood, as the charges against him were read out in court.
“I plead not guilty,” said Selebi, to all counts.
Outside the courtroom, security officials were keeping a close eye on curious onlookers, while journalists were lined up in the public gallery, laptops on their laps, ready to file on one of South Africa's most controversial trials.
Several police vehicles were parked outside the court with policemen and women lingering on the sidewalk and in the hallways of the court.
Selebi is facing two charges of corruption and one of defeating the ends of justice relating to payments he allegedly received from ex-Hyundai boss Billy Rautenbach, and slain mining boss Brett Kebble and his associate Glenn Agliotti, who is accused of murdering Kebble.
The investigation started in 2006 and Selebi first presented himself to court in 2008.
Judge Meyer Joffe warned the State during Selebi's last appearance in May that he would not tolerate any further delays.
"Let there be no misunderstanding in that regard," Joffe told State prosecutor Gerrie Nel.
The Star newspaper reported on Monday that his prosecutors had more than doubled the list of potential witnesses against him, which included Agliotti, Rautenbach, Selebi's alleged girlfriend, Nontombi Matshoba, and acting prosecuting boss Mokotedi Mpshe.
Agliotti is expected to be the first witness in a trial that had been set down for five weeks.
Selebi, dressed in a grey suit, solemnly stood, as the charges against him were read out in court.
“I plead not guilty,” said Selebi, to all counts.
Outside the courtroom, security officials were keeping a close eye on curious onlookers, while journalists were lined up in the public gallery, laptops on their laps, ready to file on one of South Africa's most controversial trials.
Several police vehicles were parked outside the court with policemen and women lingering on the sidewalk and in the hallways of the court.
Selebi is facing two charges of corruption and one of defeating the ends of justice relating to payments he allegedly received from ex-Hyundai boss Billy Rautenbach, and slain mining boss Brett Kebble and his associate Glenn Agliotti, who is accused of murdering Kebble.
The investigation started in 2006 and Selebi first presented himself to court in 2008.
Judge Meyer Joffe warned the State during Selebi's last appearance in May that he would not tolerate any further delays.
"Let there be no misunderstanding in that regard," Joffe told State prosecutor Gerrie Nel.
The Star newspaper reported on Monday that his prosecutors had more than doubled the list of potential witnesses against him, which included Agliotti, Rautenbach, Selebi's alleged girlfriend, Nontombi Matshoba, and acting prosecuting boss Mokotedi Mpshe.
Agliotti is expected to be the first witness in a trial that had been set down for five weeks.
