Brett Kebble murder accused Glenn Agliotti will go on trial for alleged drug dealing in October, the Germiston Magistrate’s Court decided on Wednesday.
Agliotti and three others, Stephanos Paparas, his father Dimitrio and Stanley Poonin appeared together before Magistrate JC Van Wyk on drug-dealing charges.
The four will be tried for their involvement in a syndicate that was allegedly on the verge of exporting R250-million-worth of drugs to the United States.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s Gerrie Nel on Wednesday requested the court to postpone the case to October 9, the agreed upon date for the trial to commence. Dates set aside for the trial were October 9, 10, 11 and 12.
Prior bail conditions for three of the four men stipulate that the accused are allowed to leave their homes to go to work only between 6am and 6pm. These conditions were extended by Van Wyk.
They all appeared relaxed for their brief court appearance on Wednesday and seemed to have grown accustomed to the media interest their case has drawn.
Agliotti, however, slipped out of the court and may have used an exit flanking the courthouse.
”At first the media attention was scary … but I realised at the end of the day I had nothing to be ashamed of and I am proud of my family,” said Eleni Paparas who was at the court supporting her father and brother.
”I am looking forward to getting the court case over with so our lives are back in order … it’s four long-suffering months to go.”
Paparas said her family was ”taking strain”, especially her elderly father, who turns 70 in December.
”It’s such a shame he is treated like a criminal. He is due for a bypass operation as soon as the whole thing is wrapped up — my brother is very strong and confident,” she said.
”But the truth will be unveiled; it’s just a matter of time.”
The Scorpions arrested Lesley Allan Curtis, Christiaan Alblas, Pedro Marques, Dimitrio Paparas and Stanley Poonin during a raid on a self-storage facility in Alberton on July 7 2006.
Investigators seized hashish and cannabis believed to be destined for the overseas market.
Stephanos Paparas handed himself over to police on July 13.
Agliotti was later added to the charge sheet.
Curtis, a Canadian, and South Africans Alblas and Marques were sentenced in the Alberton Magistrate’s Court on July 25 2006 after turning state witness under a plea agreement.
Agliotti, a friend of the police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi, will appear in court on June 20 in connection with the murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble. — Sapa