A judge on Tuesday jailed South Africa's former police chief and the ex-president of Interpol, Jackie Selebi, for 15 years for accepting bribes from organised crime.

Judge Meyer Joffe said he believed Selebi was the most senior official ever convicted of graft in South Africa, saying high-level corruption posed a threat to the nation's hard-won constitutional freedoms.

"Corruption threatens our constitutional order," the judge said at the hearing in Johannesburg. "Corruption by members of the police force can never be tolerated. It is the very antithesis of what the police force stands for."

"I am satisfied that a sentence of 15 years in prison is appropriate in the present matter," Joffe said at the high court, telling Selebi he had repeatedly lied to cover his tracks.

"Mr Selebi, you were an embarrassment in the witness box," the judge said. "At no stage during the trial did the accused display any indication of remorse. The accused lied and fabricated evidence in an effort to escape the consequences of his conduct," he added.

Selebi's lawyers told the court they would seek an appeal, and he was released on 20,000 rand (2,000 euros) bail and given 14 days to apply for appeal.

He refused to speak to reporters as he left the building in a grey suit, but was seen laughing as he waited to leave the courtroom.

Selebi was convicted on July 2 of corruption for accepting more than 1.2 million rand (166,000 dollars, 122,000 euros) in bribes between 2000 and 2005, including payments from convicted drug smuggler Glenn Agliotti.

The court heard that Agliotti, who was on trial in an adjoining courtroom in the murder of a local mining magnate, indulged Selebi's fondness of designer clothing, which the police chief rewarded by feeding Agliotti inside information.

While in office, Selebi acknowledged his friendship with Agliotti saying "Glenn Agliotti is my friend, finish and klaar (end of story)."

Known for his angry outbursts and snazzy suits, the 60-year-old rose through the ranks of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), playing a key role in the fight against apartheid.

After the fall of the white-minority government in 1994, he occupied top positions in the ANC-led government.

In 2000 former president Thabo Mbeki named him national police commissioner, a job that led to him becoming Interpol's president from 2004 to 2008 -- although he had no formal police training.

According to the prosecution, his shady dealings with criminals started during his time with Interpol, where he shared classified police intelligence with criminals in return for favours.

It was Agliotti's drugs conviction that lifted the lid on Selebi's activities, sparking a lengthy investigation into his life.

The probe was marred by political interference which threatened to divide the ruling party.

His first arrest warrant was issued in September 2007 but he was not charged, reportedly due to protection by then-president Mbeki.

On January 11, 2008, he was charged with corruption and defeating the ends of justice due to his friendship with Agliotti.

Mbeki put him on leave the following day, and he resigned as president of Interpol.