Selebi to face R42m compensation case

Selebi stands accused of alleged corrupt payments totalling at least R1.2 million

Former airport security boss Paul O'Sullivan has filed court papers against suspended police chief Jackie Selebi to challenge his 2003 dismissal, Selebi's office said today.

O'Sullivan also filed papers against Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula and Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) managing director Monhla Hlahla.

Selebi's spokesperson Sally de Beer confirmed to Sapa that his office had received notification of the legal proceedings.

In his application, O'Sullivan claimed Selebi "conspired and acted in concert" with Hlahla to fire him and discredit him publicly.

The Star newspaper reported today that O' Sullivan claimed he was prosecuted after cancelling a security contract between ACSA and Khuselani Security and Risk Management Ltd, which he claimed had provided poor services.

O' Sullivan further claimed the security company was under Selebi's protection.

In his application to the Johannesburg High Court, O' Sullivan was seeking to prove that his right to dignity, privacy and right to fair labour practice had been violated. O' Sullivan claimed he had become unemployable since his dismissal and claimed R42 million in damages for loss of income and "pain and suffering."

Nqakula's spokesperson Trevor Bloem declined to comment. "I don't have any comment to make in that regard," he said.

Efforts to get a comment from ACSA failed. - Sapa