It’s official: Glenn Agliotti is the “Landlord” accused by the Scorpions of being a boss in one of the country’s “most prominent syndicates” involved in the smuggling of drugs and other contraband.
Agliotti, controversially referred to as “my friend, finish and klaar” by police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi, appeared in the Alberton Regional Court on Thursday to be joined as an accused in a R200-million drugs trial. He was granted bail of R500Â 000 under house arrest.
Agliotti is also an accused in Brett Kebble’s murder. He has admitted to a role in what he called the mining magnate’s “assisted suicide”. In that case, he was granted bail last December under similar conditions.
Agliotti’s arraignment in the Alberton drugs trial could increase pressure on Selebi, who has repeatedly stated that he was not aware his friend was a criminal.
The drugs charges serve to confirm that the Scorpions believe Agliotti to be a top figure in organised crime in South Africa.
The Alberton matter stems from a Scorpions drug haul last July on the East Rand, when 762kg of hashish and more than a tonne of compressed dagga were seized. The Scorpions have put the street value of the seized drugs at more than R200-million.
At the time, six alleged syndicate members were arrested: Canadian Lesley Curtis and South Africans Cristiaan Alblas, Pedro Marques, Stanley Poonin, Dimitrios Paparas and his son Stefanos Paparas.
Poonin and the Paparases have maintained their innocence, but Curtis, Alblas and Marques made plea bargains with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), agreeing to turn state witness in return for reduced sentences.
In court papers outlining the plea deals, the NPA detailed part of the Scorpions’ investigation, referring to a mysterious “Landlord” who was one of “the syndicate bosses who tend not to get their hands dirty, but who manage their enterprises from a distance”.
The syndicate itself was described as “one of the most prominent … in South Africa. The state considers that this syndicate has not only been involved in the illegal smuggling of hashish and cannabis but in other types of contraband, including tyres, cigarettes and drugs such as Mandrax, cocaine and ice.”
The Mail & Guardian reported at the time that Agliotti was the Landlord and that the Scorpions had their sights on him in the matter.
This was formally confirmed on Thursday when Agliotti was added as an accused. He was not asked to plead, but argued in a brief affidavit why bail should be granted under house arrest. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel did not oppose this, confirming that Agliotti had respected the conditions of his house-arrest bail in the Kebble matter.
The matter was postponed to March 28. Agliotti is due to appear in the Johannesburg Regional Court on January 25 in the Kebble murder case.