Johannesburg — AUTHORITIES at the weekend denied any knowledge of former national police commissioner Jackie Selebi’s “recently discovered” information , which Selebi said suggested that the investigation and prosecution of him were improper.

The former commissioner was last month sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of corruption. His application for leave to appeal will be heard by Judge Meyer Joffe today.

In a statement on Friday, Selebi said he had instructed his lawyers to "notify the authorities of this information". But yesterday, spokesmen for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the National Intelligence Agency and the Hawks all said they were unaware of the information.

Independent Complaints Directorate spokesman Moses Dlamini said the same on Friday.

Selebi said he trusted the "relevant authorities to investigate these allegations and determine their veracity". He would not say, however, what the allegations were.

An Eyewitness News report at the weekend said the information could be evidence that has emerged in the Brett Kebble murder trial, or the contents of secret spy tapes that helped save President Jacob Zuma from corruption charges.

In his statement, Selebi said he had "consistently" argued during his trial "that the actions taken against me were improper, manipulated and based on ulterior motives".

In his plea explanation at the beginning of his corruption trial in October last year, Selebi said he was targeted because he supported the dissolution of the Scorpions, a now defunct investigating body under the control of the NPA.

Selebi also said he was targeted because he had information about attempts to extort a bribe by former national director of public prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka, as well as that Mr Ngcuka's successor, Vusi Pikoli, had obtained shares through his wife from mining company Simmer & Jack in an improper way.

Selebi said he had summoned Mr Pikoli to his office in 2005 and Mr Pikoli did not deny that his wife had received gratification.

In his judgment, Judge Joffe said Selebi did not develop his argument about Mr Ngcuka . The judge said there was no evidence of Mr Ngcuka exerting any influence on the Scorpions to proceed with a "campaign" against Selebi.

Judge Joffe also said the meeting Selebi claimed to have had with Mr Pikoli simply did not take place.

He dismissed Selebi's claim that he was targeted because of his views on the Scorpions.