Agliotti testifies against Selebi

2009-10-06 12:03

Johannesburg - The man ex-top cop Jackie Selebi once described as his friend, convicted drug dealer Glen Agliotti, started testifying against him in his corruption trial on Tuesday.

Agliotti, dressed in a grey suit and green tie, avoided looking at Selebi, who was quietly sitting in the dock, while Judge Meyer Joffe read out an indemnity agreement in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg.

“Mr Agliotti, you will be obliged to answer any question... notwithstanding that that may incriminate you,” said Joffe.

Agliotti would be discharged of prosecution for corruption, fraud, theft, money laundering, defeating the ends of justice and racketeering, all related to the charges Selebi is facing, if he co-operated with the State.

"I must inform you, Mr Agliotti, if you answer frankly and honestly... you shall be discharged from prosecution,” said Joffe.

Paid Selebi's medical bill

Selebi, dressed in a navy suit and blue tie, looked tired, but managed a smile for prosecutor Gerrie Nel as he left the courtroom during the tea break. He once described Agliotti as his "friend, finish en klaar".

Agliotti testified that he paid Selebi’s child’s medical bill in the 1990s, when Selebi was the head of the ANC's social welfare and development department.

“During the discussions, Mr Selebi indicated to me he had his own problems... he had a medical bill... for his kids.

“I then volunteered to pay the bill for Mr Selebi. I had no problem with it, and I did so in the form of a cheque made out to the respective doctor,” testified Agliotti.

But “nothing came” of their relationship at that stage, he said.

“The relationship with Mr Selebi... it was good and cordial... when nothing came of it we both went our own ways.”

Meeting

Agliotti saw Selebi again for the first time at a meeting in Woodmead, Johannesburg in early 2000, which was also attended by businessman Yusuf Surtee and Paul Stemmet, who ran a security company called Palto at the time.

Agliotti said he attended as a friend and that the meeting had been set up by Surtee, Stemmet and Selebi.

“Pleasantries were exchanged and it was very nice to see the national police commissioner after such a long break in our relationship. I was very happy to see him and likewise, he was as well,” said Agliotti.

“I was not part of the meeting but what happened was, was that Yusuf Surtee indicated to Selebi that Paul Stemmet had done some investigative work for him and could recommend him to assist the national commissioner and the police services in any way that he could.”

The case will resume after the tea break.

Charges

Selebi's charges relate to payments he allegedly received from Agliotti, slain mining magnate Brett Kebble, and ex-Hyundai boss and mining businessman Billy Rautenbach.

The State, in papers before the court, alleged that "Agliotti and/or Kebble and or Rautenbach and/or the relevant corporate entities have benefited the accused in the period 1 January 2000 up to and including 31 December 2005... in an amount of at least but not restricted to R1.2m..

"This was by way of payments by Agliotti on his own account and on behalf of Rautenbach, the Kebbles and others."

The State said the relationship between Selebi and Agliotti, who met in 1990, "entails numerous payments in South African and foreign currency, as well as clothing and other gifts".

"In return, the accused rewarded Agliotti by inter alia informing him of the existence of an investigation into his criminal activity."

Selebi is saying he is the victim of a plot against him cooked up by two former chief prosecutors, Bulelani Ngcuka and Vusi Pikoli, whom his lawyer has accused of fabricating evidence against him.

The investigation started in 2006 and Selebi first presented himself to court in 2008.

A list of state witnesses includes Agliotti, Rautenbach, acting prosecuting boss Mokotedi Mpshe and Clinton Nassif, who was responsible for Kebble's security.

- SAPA