Alleged Mafia boss Robert von Palace Kolbatschenko, better known as Vito Palazzolo, took Andre Lincoln, former commander of the Presidential Investigation Task Unit (Pitu), to Angola in order to clear Palazzolo’s name with the Angolan government.
Palazzolo on Wednesday admitted in the Wynberg Regional Court that he had paid for Lincoln’s trip in the 1990s, and he had later lied to police that Palazzolo’s son had received a refund in a sealed envelope.
Palazzolo’s attorney Norman Snitcher, pointed out in May this year that it had never been proved in court that Palazzolo was involved with the mafia.
Lincoln (41) has pleaded not guilty before magistrate Awie Kotze to 46 charges of theft and fraud involving about R300 000.
He has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of drunken driving.
His trial began in May 2000 and has dragged on for more than two years following his arrest in February 1998.
Palazzolo told the court he regarded Lincoln as one of his best friends, and was loath to testify at his trial.
He added: ”I do not want to be here today but I was subpoenaed and have no choice.”
Palazzolo was in fact subpoenaed by the court itself to answer questions about his relationship with Lincoln.
Palazzolo told the court he had often visited Angola as a consultant to a mining concern, but that serious problem arose with the Angolan authorities owing to a report about himself compiled by ”a crazy police inspector” attached to the Pitu.
The report contained numerous laughable allegations about himself, including that he had headed a mafia-type syndicate involving former Environment Minister Pallo Jordan.
Asked by Kotze if he had paid for Lincoln’s trip to Angola, Palazzolo replied: ”Yes — I did not want the state to pay for a trip to Luanda and my company was willing to pay the expenses.”
Palazzolo said he was not refunded, and had not expected any refund.
Kotze asked if he would have known if a refund had been given to his son as claimed in earlier evidence.
”I got no money back, but when Director Leonard Knipe (now retired) told me that Lincoln had put in a claim for the trip, I realised Lincoln was in trouble.
”Lincoln suggested that if questioned about it I should say that I had heard that an envelope was given to my son, but that was not true.”
Palazzolo said he met Lincoln by chance in 1994 through a business friend who had asked Lincoln to help German fugitive Jurgen Harksen to settle in the country.
Palazzolo said he was asked by his friend to find accommodation for Harksen in Cape Town.
Palazzolo said the business relationship with Lincoln had become a social relationship. Lincoln told him he had come across a police report in which Palazzolo’s name was mentioned concerning the Pallo Jordan investigation.
Lincoln had wanted to develop his friendship with Palazzolo in order to get to the bottom of the allegations.
Palazzolo said he became aware that Lincoln was the commander of the Pitu, but Palazzolo did not know the Pitu had been set up to investigate himself.
The trial continues on Thursday. – Sapa