South Africa grants medical parole to top cop

JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- South Africa's prison authorities say the nation's former police chief who is serving 15 years in jail for corruption is to be freed on health grounds.

Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele told reporters Friday Jackie Selebi, whose appeal against the sentence was rejected in December, `'will be going home today."

Selebi, 62, also a former head of the international police organization Interpol, was suffering from cancer and was under treatment in prison. Officials said he was granted medical parole for compassionate reasons.

Selebi resigned as national police commissioner and Interpol boss when corruption charges involving collusion with organized crime figures were filed in 2008.

His successor as police chief was also suspended last year on graft allegations. Both were veteran members of South Africa's governing African National Congress party.

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