Selebi trial: Court dismisses Security Ministry's petition

The State Security Ministry’s petition to the Supreme Court of Appeal to overturn a decision to compel a former national intelligence coordinator to testify in Jackie Selebi’s corruption trial was dismissed on Friday.

An official at the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) confirmed that the application for leave to appeal by Minister Siyabonga Cwele and two others was dismissed by Judge Kenneth Mthiyane and Judge Mahomed Navsa.

The ministry lodged the petition at the SCA to overturn a South Gauteng High Court decision to compel former national intelligence coordinator Barry Gilder to testify in the former police national commissioner’s corruption trial.

Selebi is facing a count of corruption and another of defeating the ends of justice in connection with about R1,2-million he allegedly received from convicted drug trafficker Glenn Agliotti, slain mining magnate Brett Kebble and former Hyundai boss Billy Rautenbach in return for favours.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Gilder was expected to testify about a 2005 draft intelligence report that contained a single paragraph about allegedly untoward payments Selebi was receiving from Kebble.

Selebi’s corruption case resumes on February 1.—Sapa