Agliotti an 'untruthful' witness'

2010-07-02 11:10

Johannesburg - Glenn Agliotti was an "untruthful" and "unreliable" witness in the corruption trial of former police chief Jackie Selebi, the South Gauteng High Court heard on Friday.

"Agliotti can be described as one of the most untruthful and unreliable witnesses to testify in this court. Clearly Agliotti's evidence in court must be viewed with circumspection," Judge Meyer Joffe said on the second day of his judgment.

Selebi was facing charges of corruption relating to up to R1.2m he allegedly received from various people in return for favours, including controversial "businessman" Agliotti.

The former police chief and Interpol president also faced charges of defeating the ends of justice.

Contradictory

He had pleaded not guilty and the State had relied heavily on testimony from Agliotti to convict Selebi.

However, the judge also said Selebi's evidence was implausible and contradictory with regards to three alleged meetings with former National Prosecuting Authority head Vusi Pikoli, one in 2005, another in Pikoli's office in 2006 and a third when a DVD was sent to Pikoli.

He said the Selebi's credibility was in question and this was the first of five big lies he had told the court.

Selebi had claimed he had summoned Pikoli to his office to discuss certain issues about former National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka allegedly receiving a bribe.

Joffe said Pikoli denied having such a meeting.

Pikoli 'credible'

"Pikoli was a good witness... reliable... credible. Pikoli's evidence is accepted and the accused evidence rejected."

Joffe described Selebi's evidence as unsatisfactory which explained his strange demeanour.

Joffe said he was reading through the first of Selebi's "five big lies."

The judge had spent most of Thursday reviewing evidence presented during the marathon multi-million rand trial.

- SAPA