The Scorpions on Wednesday night arrested a prominent businessman in connection with the murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble in September last year, the elite unit said on Thursday.
Talk Radio 702 named the suspect as Glenn Agliotti, a friend of police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi and fixer for Kebble
The Scorpions in September raided premises belonging to Agliotti, whom they have identified as ”the Landlord”, a kingpin in a major drugs and contraband cigarette syndicate.
The raid has placed Palto, a murky security company that freelanced for the police, in the spotlight.
The search warrant lists Agliotti as a suspect alongside members of Palto, as well as senior police officials who were Palto’s contacts at police headquarters.
Allegations that Palto served as a cover for a crime syndicate remain unproven, but available evidence serves to reinforce the suspicion that the contraband syndicate was improperly linked to police at the highest levels.
Selebi, who has tried to downplay his friendship with ÂÂÂAgliotti after initially saying that Agliotti was ”my friend, finish and klaar”, allegedly was close to Palto too.
According to Scorpions spokesperson Lucinda Moonieya, the arrest was carried out on Wednesday night in Gauteng. Talk Radio 702 said Agliotti was arrested at his home in Bryanston, Johannesburg.
She added the man would appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday afternoon.
Guy Kebble, brother of Brett Kebble, told the radio station: ”I knew who the suspect was; nothing surprises me. I can’t wait to see who the other suspects are. I have a clear picture of who they are.”
He also said he believes there was a ”deliberate cover-up”.
”The whole thing went to sleep for a long time. Who would have thought two years ago that you would be discussing your brother’s murder?
I never saw Glenn and Brett together. I met him at a restaurant in Hyde Park, and I said, ‘This is a person you should stay clear of.”’
Talk Radio 702 said it decided to name the suspect because it was in the public’s interest. – Sapa, Staff reporter