South Africa’s embattled police commissioner resigned Sunday as president of Interpol after prosecutors said they intend to charge him with bribery and defeating the ends of justice over his “generally corrupt relationship” with a convicted drug trafficker.

Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi is alleged to have received $170,000 in bribes from businessperson Glen Agliotti, who is now on trial being accused of involvement in the 2005 killing of mining magnate Brett Kebble, said a copy of selebi’s indictment, made available to the media by prosecutors.

The same court paper show payments allegedly made to Selebi through a front company were listed as “cash cop” and “cash Chief.”

Selebi denies allegations of corruption or links with organized crime, the BBC reported.

Selebi said in his letter of resignation that he was stepping down “in the best interests of Interpol and out of respect for the global law enforcement community,” a statement said.

According to Interpol Secretary General Ronald K. Noble, the top official at the Lyon-based agency, Seleby “has always conducted himself and acted in a way to enhance global security and police cooperation worldwide,” the Independent reported. However, Noble added, “corruption is one of the most serious offenses that any police official can be accused of.”

President Thabo Mbeki has supported Selebi, a close ally. In the same letter of resignation, Selebi said the President has granted his request for an extended leave of absence from his job as national commissioner “so that I can devote my energies to clearing my name.”

However, Mbeki also added: “We all have to respect all the legal processes in the country and therefore if [the prosecution authority] believes that it needs to proceed against the national commissioner of police we would have to accept that and ensure that we do all that is necessary for the law to take its course without any hindrance from any party.”