Selebi in hospital for tests

Disgraced former police Chief Jackie Selebi, taken from prison to undergo tests on Monday, is in a quite serious condition, his lawyer said.

Selebi's visit to Pretoria's Steve Biko Hospital was to do with the medical condition he suffered when he arrived at Pretoria Central Prison a week ago, Wynanda Coetzee told Sapa.

She said that it was quite serious and that it would not get better.

Correctional services spokeswoman Sibongile Khumalo confirmed he had gone to hospital.

Tests under way

He is a sick man and, being sick, he must undergo tests, she said without divulging any further details.

Selebi was booked into prison last Monday to start a 15-year jail term. He was found guilty of corruption for accepting money from convicted drug trafficker Glenn Agliotti and for giving Agliotti benefits such as showing him a British drug investigation report. Selebi was president of Interpol at the time.

His appeal against his corruption conviction failed in the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Selebi watched the judgment on television at his home and collapsed when he heard the outcome, Coetzee said at the time.

(Sapa, December 2011)