'Count Corruption' to pay R1m

2003-10-16 12:33

Cape Town - The Roodefontein saga claimed its first victim on Thursday when developer Count Riccardo Agusta pleaded guilty to corruption.

In terms of a plea-bargain agreement with the Scorpions which was accepted by the Cape High Court, the 52-year-old Italian was fined R1m, which he is to pay within 72 hours.

Agusta was charged after it emerged that last year he donated a total of R400 000 to the New National Party in an apparent bid to pave the way for planning approval of the Roodefontein golf estate development near Plettenberg Bay.

"Count Agusta accepts... that his payments to the NNP in the circumstances set out herein, constitute contravention of the stringent requirements of South Africa's Corruption Act," said Thursday's plea agreement.

Agusta admitted that he "unlawfully and corruptly" gave or offered the money to then-NNP provincial leader and Western Cape then-premier Peter Marais, to provincial environmental affairs and development MEC David Malatsi, or to the NNP.

The aim was "to influence the said Marais and/or Malatsi and/or the NNP to commit or omit to do any act... to remove the obstacles in the path of approval of the Roodefontein development".

Marais and Malatsi are facing charges of corruption and are on bail.

- SAPA