Agliotti charged Kebble $1m

2009-10-06 13:17

Johannesburg - Convicted drug trafficker Glenn Agliotti charged slain mining magnate Brett Kebble a $1m "consulting fee" for his access to former top cop Jackie Selebi, the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg heard on Tuesday.

Agliotti testified how he was introduced to Kebble, his father Roger Kebble, and Kebble’s confidante John Stratton by their head of security, Paul Stemmet.

“Paul Stemmet indicated to Brett Kebble that I have a close relationship with the accused,” testified Agliotti on the second day of Selebi’s corruption trial.

At the first meeting, Kebble indicated to Agliotti that “they had a whole host of problems”.

'Problems'

Judge Meyer Joffe wanted to know what kind of problems they had.

“An investigative company called AIN, who had been appointed by DRD Gold ... basically they had a complaint they wanted addressed at the highest level possible within the SAPS to make sure this complaint was dealt with in a direct manner,” said Agliotti.

“I then approached the accused, with the complaint, handed it to him, he then said that he would organise, to present our complaint together with all the relevant facts.”

Agliotti set up a meeting between Selebi and several other police officers where former judge Willem Heath represented the JCI, the company of which Kebble was CEO. Stratton and Agliotti also attended this meeting.

The purpose of the meeting was to “present their complaint and case to SAPS and then obviously to have it further investigated”.

Relationship 'cemented'

After this, the relationship with Agliotti and Kebble and his confidantes had been “cemented”.

“I cemented a relationship with them... because of my relationship with the accused, they wanted the accused on board. I said to them it would cost one million US dollars, which was my consulting fee and they agreed to that.”

Agliotti said he made sure that they did not have direct access to Selebi themselves.

“I didn’t want them to have easy access to the accused because they would then no longer need me... it was a decision I took, a business decision,” said Agliotti.

Agliotti is testifying against Selebi, the former national police commissioner, who is facing charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

- SAPA