JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – South Africa’s former police  chief was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment yesterday after he  was convicted of graft and became one of the most senior  officials brought to justice for corruption.

Jackie Selebi, a long-standing star in the ruling African  National Congress (ANC) party and a former president of the  international police body Interpol, had been found guilty last  month of receiving bribes from a drug kingpin.

Judge Meyer Joffe said in handing down the sentence that  corruption was a cancer undermining society and Selebi had  embarrassed the court, the police force and South Africa.

“At no stage during the trial did the accused display any  indication of remorse. The accused lied and fabricated evidence  in an endeavour to escape the consequences of his conduct,”  Joffe said.