Fractious exchanges at Selebi trial

Sarcasm and heated arguments between former police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi and prosecutor Gerrie Nel were the order of the day in the high court in Johannesburg on Thursday during Selebi’s corruption trial.

Thursday’s spat related to Selebi’s constant referral to his handwritten notes, and again prompted Judge Meyer Joffe to play referee between the two men.

“I put it to you, Mr Selebi, you are not paying attention to the question. You are instead paging through notes your brought with you from home,” said Nel.

Selebi replied: “Mr Nel, I listen with my ears, not my eyes,” drawing hushed giggles from the public gallery.

Nel had wanted to know why Selebi failed to bring to court the receipts he said he used to his notes listing his household expenses for 2004 and 2005.

‘Mr Selebi, you laundered cash’
Selebi, who insisted on producing bank statements, answered: “Because I found better proof in these credit-card statements.”

Nel earlier accused Selebi of laundering money by changing foreign currency into rands after overseas trips.

“You went to France, they accept credit cards.

You had your Diners [Club] card. Why would you need more cash?” he asked.

“I put it to you, Mr Selebi, you laundered cash into foreign currency and back into rands, so that when asked where you got your cash, you’d say ‘I sold forex,’” said Nel.

The trial continues.