The witnesses and suspects in the Brett Kebble murder case have not disappeared, said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Saturday.
”Our investigators, who have been working on this investigation for several months already, are aware of the whereabouts of all the suspects and potential witnesses in this matter,” said NPA spokesperson Makhosini Nkosi.
He said the Scorpions, which fall under the NPA, and the police were working together and were in ”full control”.
”The NPA has noted media reports suggesting that the shooter in the murder of Johannesburg businessman, Brett Kebble, has disappeared after striking a deal with the DSO [Scorpions]. These reports are not true,” said Nkosi.
”The public can be assured that all precautions are being taken to secure potential witnesses and that we have also obtained and quarantined important evidence in connection with the murder of Kebble.”
There has been renewed speculation around the case since the arrest on Thursday of businessman Glen Agliotti, an associate of Kebble and controversially also a friend of South African Police Service Commissioner Jackie Selebi. Agliotti’s arrest sparked off renewed calls for Selebi’s resignation.
Nkosi said there had been no further arrests since that of Agliotti.
He did not comment on media speculation that a police commissioner had also been arrested.
Nkosi said the NPA would not comment further on the case to avoid jeopardising the investigation.
”Therefore, there will be no further comment on this matter from now on.
”We also call on all concerned to observe the sub judice rule that applies to this and all other matters that are before court and that the rights of all individuals, including the accused, should be respected.”
No comment
It had been reported earlier that police would not comment on reports on Friday that a Johannesburg police commissioner had been arrested in connection the murder Kebble.
National police spokesperson Sally de Beer would also not comment on a report, in the Star newspaper, that the former Hell’s Angels biker suspected of killing Kebble had vanished.
”The head of the detectives has said we must not even comment about the matter,” she said.
The Star reported on Thursday that police and Scorpions investigators said they had arranged to meet Kebble’s alleged killer after he had made a statement, but that he had failed to turn up.
Agliotti (49) was arrested by the Scorpions at his home in Bryanston, Johannesburg, in a dawn raid on Thursday for murder and conspiracy to murder in the high-profile case of mining magnate Kebble.
The thickset, grey-haired businessman appeared in court on Thursday where he stood calmly in the dock, dressed neatly in an open-neck, purple striped shirt, holding his hands in front of his body.
The only words that the packed court heard were a quiet ”Yes, sir,” as Agliotti replied to a question by magistrate Lucas van der Schyff about knowing Agliotti from a previous case.
Agliotti gave a gentle bow as a police officer led him down to the holding cells and a door was heard slamming behind him.
He will be held at the Sandton police station until December 8, when he will apply for bail. — Sapa
You first read about it in the M&G
Over nearly six months, while it ran a series of articles about a crime syndicate associated with slain mining magnate Brett Kebble and police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi, the Mail & Guardian was a voice crying in the media wilderness. The arrest of Glenn Agliotti vindicates the M&G‘s multipart exposé:
May 26: Jackie Selebi’s shady Kebble links
The M&G revealed that Selebi was ”linked to shadowy figures” Agliotti and Clint Nassif, who worked with Kebble on security and other projects, and that it was ”highly likely” that the Scorpions were investigating this network and Selebi’s links to it. We also reported that Agliotti phoned Selebi soon after Kebble’s murder, and that Agliotti and Kebble had been in phone contact 24 hours earlier, when the latter was close to the murder scene. Agliotti and Selebi insisted there was nothing untoward about their call.
June 2: Commissioner did visit Kebble
We detailed Agliotti’s involvement in R18-million fraudulent cobalt deals and his life as a bigamist. We also confirmed Selebi visited Kebble’s home — despite his earlier denial.
July 14: Kebble link in huge drug bust
We reported the Scorpions’ arrest of five alleged syndicate members on charges of smuggling hashish and dagga worth up to R200-million, in a move linked to a wider investigation of Agliotti and his company. We also detailed a contraband tobacco deal involving some of the same actors, and how a crooked cop involved in the deal boasted of taking Selebi’s orders.
July 28: Arrests: Agliotti is next
We identified Agliotti as ”the Landlord”, described by the Scorpions in court as among ”the syndicate bosses who tend not to get their hands dirty, but manage their enterprises from a distance”. We also examined Agliotti and Selebi’s friendship — Selebi had originally described Agliotti as ”my friend, finish and klaar”, but was now backtracking.
August 4: ‘Landlord gave order to kidnap’
We further described Agliotti’s alleged involvement with the syndicate, including claims that he had a syndicate member locked in a container.
September 22: Scorpions raid Agliotti
We reported that the Scorpions had raided Agliotti’s home and business, and that the warrant indicated they were interested in the syndicate’s links with police and Palto, a shady undercover operation linked to Selebi that freelanced for police.
September 29: Selebi, Agliotti and the dirty cops
We expanded on Palto’s role and Selebi’s downplaying of his ties with Palto head Paul Stemmet.
October 27: Kebble’s security boss nabbed
We reported the arrest of Nassif, Agliotti’s friend and former Kebble security adviser, as part of the Scorpions’ larger investigation. We said ”Nassif’s arrest could blow the case wide open … he could turn state witness”.
November 3: Kebble murder: The noose tightens
We named the Scorpions’ investigation into the criminal network surrounding Kebble — project ”Bad Guys”. The investigation encompassed conspiracy to murder, (the Kebble) murder, corruption (Selebi’s alleged receipt of syndicate money, which he denies), drug trafficking and organised crime (including the July drug bust). We reported claims that Nassif interfered with the Kebble murder probe by moving Kebble’s car to a panel-beater and tried to get it cleaned.
November 10: Inside the Selebi dossier
We described how former airport security boss Paul O’Sullivan, on a mission to expose Selebi, contributed to the Scorpions probe. Selebi has accused O’Sullivan of engineering a ”smear” against him.
November 17: Kebble arrest: What now for Selebi?
The arrest of Agliotti on suspicion of murdering Kebble has opened perhaps the biggest can of worms in South Africa’s criminal history. The arrest could have grave implications for Selebi.