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South Africa's former chief of police Jackie Selebi has pleaded not guilty at the start of his corruption trial. Mr Selebi resigned as head of Interpol after he was charged with having links to organised crime and accepting bribes worth 1.2m rand ($157,00, �98,000). The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Johannesburg says his case is seen as a test of a much-criticised justice system. He will be the most senior member of the ruling African National Congress to face corruption charges. Charges against ANC leader Jacob Zuma were dropped shortly before he became president after elections in April. During the case at Johannesburg's High Court, prosecutors will seek to prove that Mr Selebi, 58, received corrupt payments over a five-year period. The South African Press Association says he stood solemnly in a grey suit as the charges against him were read out. "I plead not guilty," he said. At the heart of the allegations is Mr Selebi's relationship with convicted drug smuggler, Glen Agliotti, who is also accused of links to the murder of a prominent mining magnate. Prosecutors allege that Glen Agliotti paid bribes and gifts to the police commissioner in exchange for turning a blind eye to drugs trafficking. Mr Selebi, who was South Africa's first black police chief, was a close ally of former President Thabo Mbeki. He was a political appointee and had no previous experience of policing. Under Mr Mbeki, Mr Selebi's contract was extended even after he had been charged with corruption. Mr Selebi has previously said the charges against him were a conspiracy, without providing any details. The case has now been postponed until Tuesday.