Agliotti to finger Selebi

2007-12-06 08:50

Philip de Bruin and Magdel Fourie

Cape Town - The net is apparently tightening around national police chief, Commissioner Jackie Selebi.

A plea bargain between die National Prosecution Authority (NPA) and Glenn Agliotti, was the "precursor to his important role in several important investigations" among them the investigation into police chief, Commissioner Jackie Selebi.

This was confirmed by a highly placed source in the information community on Wednesday.

The source has close ties with the Selebi investigation and therefore cannot be identified.

Net is tightening

"I can confirm that Agliotti agreed to support the NPA's investigation into Commissioner Selebi. The information he has will probably play the most important role in the investigation," said the source.

Two other well-placed sources told Msimelelo Njwabane that the net was tightening around Selebi.

One of them confirmed that Agliotti was preparing a controversial statement under oath which would point out Selebi's involvement in organised crime.

According to this source, the Scorpions were expected to charge Selebi with corruption, fraud, blackmail and defeating the ends of justice.

It was also alleged that Agliotti would indicate to the Scorpions how Selebi allegedly received bribes from Agliotti.

Selebi's spokesperson, Director Sally de Beer, didn't want to comment on Wednesday.

Agliotti's 'friend'

Shortly after Agliotti was arrested, Selebi confirmed his friendship with him, saying: "He is my friend, finish and klaar."

One of the sources said besides the Selebi investigation, Agliotti also had "an important role to play in helping the NPA with several other investigations". He didn't want to provide more information about these investigations.

Agliotti, 51, left the Alberton Regional Court in Germiston in a visibly good mood on Wednesday afternoon after his plea and sentence agreement had been finalised with the Scorpions.

He recently admitted guilt on a charge of drug dealing in an R25m international drug smuggling case. He left the court a free man after regional magistrate James van Wyk suspended his prison sentence.

The sentence of 10 years was suspended for five years as long as he would "openly and truthfully" testify for the State in this "and other criminal cases" and not be involved in any crimes involving drugs during the next five years.

According to the sentence agreement, he also had to pay a fine of R300 000, or alternatively serve a sentence of five years. He also had to pay R200 000 of his profit on the drug deal to the asset forfeiture unit.

"I'm very relieved," he said smiling.

Advocate Laurence Hodes, Agliotti's legal representative, told the court his client had already made a statement to the Scorpions regarding the drug smuggling and other charges and had undertaken to testify.

"The accused is willing to reveal a syndicate which imports and exports large amounts of drugs and other counterfeit goods for which South Africa is being used as a base."

Agliotti is still an accused in the Brett Kebble murder case.

- Beeld