Agliotti's 'criminal' links emerge

2009-10-13 15:40

Johannesburg - Convicted drug dealer Glenn Agliotti emerged as a labour broker for criminals, during cross examination in the corruption trial of former top cop Jackie Selebi on Tuesday.

Discussing, Agliotti's association with slain mining magnate Brett Kebble, his associate John Stratton and their security heads Paul Stemmet and Clinton Nassif, defence lawyer Jaap Cilliers asked him if it would be correct "that it was quite a common practice in this little group to manufacture false evidence against people to have them prosecuted and or sentenced [to] jail?"

Agliotti told the South Gauteng High Court: "I'm not denying it for one second. It's common knowledge in those circles. They fabricate a lot of information for purposes of achieving the results that they wish to achieve."

He confirmed he introduced Stemmet to a friend of his, "Mr Surtee" who had a "problem" with someone in Cape Town.

"Mr Stemmet resolved the problem?" queried Cilliers.

"Well. I'm led to believe that. I had no part in that."

Cilliers said he understood the problem was resolved as follows: "Stemmet went down to Cape Town with some of his assistants. He planted drugs in the person's house. He informed the police. The man was arrested and prosecuted for dealing in drugs."

Agliotti confirmed these facts as correct.

Innocent jailed

Describing the situation as "terrible", whereby a "completely innocent man was being prosecuted for dealing in drugs and is most probably sitting in jail", Cilliers asked Agliotti if he had done anything to set the situation right.

"No", said Agliotti.

He said he knew Stemmet was considered good in "surveillance, intelligence and bodyguarding", to which Cilliers added "throwing bombs and hand grenades".

"Yes, that's what they do," Agliotti said.

Judge Meyer Joffe said, although he could not get involved, some kind of investigation into the framed man needed to take place.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel confirmed the matter would be dealt with. Agliotti also confirmed he had been involved in illegal tobacco transactions in Zimbabwe, together with Kebble.

He however denied a $1m "consulting fee" he got from the Kebbles for facilitating access to Selebi.

Cilliers also brought up the plea bargain Agliotti made in a case he was arrested for in July 2006 alongside seven others in a drug bust in Alberton, south of Johannesburg. Hashish with an estimated street value of R200m was seized.

In December 2007 he pleaded guilty to a charge of dealing in drugs and received a 10-year jail sentence, suspended for five years and a R300 000 fine. He also had to pay R200 000 into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account.

In return, Agliotti agreed to testify against his accomplices, including Stephanos Paparas.

Indemnity from prosecution

Agliotti also made a deal with the State in the Selebi case and will receive indemnity from prosecution on charges including corruption, money laundering, racketeering and defeating the ends of justice if he testifies "frankly and honestly".

Cilliers asked Agliotti if it would be correct to say there were "numerous other matters" the Directorate of Special Operations could bring against him, if it wanted to.

Agliotti replied: "To the best of my recollections there is only one, that's Empire K [the investigation into the Kebble family's business affairs].

"Well Empire K amounts to a huge investigation into literally hundreds of millions of rands of fraud."

Agliotti was arrested for Brett Kebble's 2005 murder in November 2006. He is set to go on trial in that case next year.

In the matter of a tender for the SA Police Service, Agliotti alleged Selebi had promised to try and get a company called Xantium - linked with one Gavin Vareges, who is now on the witness list - onto a shortlist.

Although the company did not make the shortlist and the tender was eventually awarded to Mecer, Agliotti said "the accused told me himself that he would try and get it on the shortlist. But it was never awarded and it never got on the shortlist".

Classic case of 'knocking'

Earlier, Cilliers alleged Agliotti had taken money given by the Kebbles intended to bribe Selebi and kept it for himself.

He alleged Agliotti had pulled off a classic case of "knocking" the Kebbles when he took a "consulting fee" of around R12m to R13m from murdered mining magnate Brett Kebble and his associates in exchange for access to Selebi.

"If you indeed indicated to Kebble and [John] Stratton that you could bribe the accused if you provided them with the money, and you kept the largest portion for yourself, that would have been a textbook case of knocking," said Cilliers.

"The difference is I never said that I bribed the accused, but yes," said Agliotti.

Cilliers said Selebi's version was that "nothing went to him, you knocked the Kebbles, Stratton".

"Yes, that's his version," Agliotti said.

Selebi is facing two counts of corruption and defeating the ends of justice related to payments of at least R1.2m he allegedly received from Kebble, Agliotti and ex-Hyundai boss Billy Rautenbach.

- SAPA