JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – One of South Africa’s most  notorious drug kingpins said yesterday that he had given former  police chief Jackie Selebi cash and gifts out of generosity, not  for protection against the law.  

The case of one-time Interpol president Selebi, on trial for  corruption, has exposed rivalries and sleaze at the highest  levels of South Africa’s establishment.  

Glenn Agliotti, who is facing his own trial next year for  the murder of a mining tycoon, said this week Selebi had warned  him of a British investigation and that he had given the police  chief hundreds of thousands of rands in cash and gifts.  

But he said yesterday the gifts were merely for friendship  and that Selebi did not know of his criminal background.  

Asked by the defence if he had received any “improper  assistance” from Selebi in exchange for the gifts, Agliotti  said: “I agree with you, the accused was my friend. It (the  relationship) was based on friendship and I used that for my own  gains.”