Agliotti-linked drugs accused acquitted

Three men who were accused of drug dealing related to a R250-million consignment were acquitted in the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Magistrate Deon Snyman said the state had failed to prove its case against Stephen Paparas, his father, Dimitri, and Stanley Poonin beyond all reasonable doubt.

The three were on trial for a drug syndicate bust in 2006 where a ton of hashish was recovered by the Scorpions.

Convicted drug dealer and freed murder accused Glenn Agliotti was linked to the consignment.

Snyman said that the main players in the international drug syndicate were let off the hook through plea-bargain agreements.

Agliotti and three other syndicate members, Pedro Marques, Christiaan Alblas and Robert Lottman,were earlier convicted and agreed to testify in exchange for lenient sentences.

Agliotti was handed a 10-year suspended sentence and fined R500 000.—Sapa