Selebi 'has low moral fibre'

2010-07-02 12:18

Johannesburg - Former police chief Jackie Selebi is a person with low moral fibre, who cannot be relied upon, the South Gauteng High Court heard on Friday.

"There is a stigma in society about labelling a witness a liar... But that is what the accused did," Judge Meyer Joffe said on the second day of his judgment in Selebi's corruption trial.

"It is a finding that as head of the SAPS... he had a low moral fibre and cannot be relied upon."

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" Glenn Agliotti.

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

Agliotti 'unreliable'

Earlier Joffe said that Agliotti, whose testimony the State relied on heavily for its case, had been an "untruthful" and "unreliable" witness in the trial.

"Agliotti can be described as one of the most untruthful and unreliable witnesses to testify in this court," Joffe said.

"Clearly Agliotti's evidence in court must be viewed with circumspection."

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 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 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.

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

- SAPA