/ 8 October 2009

Agliotti: Friendship, business behind Selebi payments

A tearful Glenn Agliotti told the South Gauteng High Court on Thursday that he made payments of about R1-million to former top cop Jackie Selebi for ”friendship” and ”business” reasons.

”I made payments to the accused because, firstly, we were friends and I needed him in my business deals,” the convicted drug dealer said at the former police commissioner’s corruption trial.

Agliotti also said he needed Selebi in his dealings with slain mining magnate Brett Kebble and his associates, from whom he had requested a $1-million ”consultancy fee” for access to Selebi.

”He did help me with three reports he showed me.”

Selebi showed Agliotti reports that he was being monitored by United Kingdom officials for drug trafficking.

Earlier, Agliotti broke down while state prosecutor Gerrie Nel was questioning him about an affidavit signed in January this year, in which he criticised the way in which the Scorpions were handling his case.

”My Lord, it’s not easy being here … I didn’t want to be here to testify against my then-friend and the accused,” said Agliotti, before Judge Meyer Joffe adjourned proceedings to allow him to compose himself.

Speaking after the adjournment, Agliotti told the court the affidavit was handed over to former intelligence boss Manala Manzini, deputy director general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Arthur Fraser and police commissioner Mulangi Mphego.

”I wanted somebody to hear my side of the story … in order to try to secure a deal for myself,” said Agliotti.

This affidavit was used by Selebi in 2008 in an unsuccessful attempt to have the charges against him dropped.

Some of the contents of the affidavit were not factual, Agliotti admitted in court.

But he said he was led to believe there was a possibility of him making a deal through the NIA.

Agliotti also alleged he made the affidavit under the influence of alcohol he consumed at a ”festive” family lunch he had attended that day in January 2008.

”I’m not making excuses, I enjoyed some good wine and I did not enjoy a cup of tea.”

Agliotti said he still believed in comments he made in the affidavit that former chief prosecutor Bulelani Ngcuka and former Scorpions boss Leonard McCarthy were targeting Selebi.

”I still believe that Leonard McCarthy together with Ngcuka — were targeting the accused. That is my opinion,” he said.

Agliotti said he made the affidavit in Selebi’s and his own interest

”I thought it would be in both of our interests to give the NIA a version that they wanted to hear.”

He said the kind of deal he hoped to secure would have ensured ”that we wouldn’t be standing here today, that is what I was hoping for, that this matter — wouldn’t go further”.

Selebi is facing two counts of corruption and defeating the ends of justice related to payments of at least R1,2-million he allegedly received from Kebble, Agliotti and former Hyundai boss Billy Rautenbach.

Agliotti agreed to testify against Selebi — who once called him his ”friend, finish and klaar” — in return for indemnity from prosecution on any criminal charges relating to the Selebi case.

Adjournment
The court later adjourned briefly after questions to Agliotti about the murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble caused a stir.

Agliotti, who was being cross-examined, is also an accused in the 2005 murder of Kebble.

Selebi’s lawyer, Jaap Cilliers, started questioning Agliotti about the murder accusations, at which point Agliotti asked Judge Joffe if he was allowed to answer, considering that he was an accused in the matter.

Cilliers had just started gaining momentum in his questioning, stating that it was ”absurd” that Agliotti had been accused of the Kebble murder. Agliotti agreed, but then asked the judge if he should answer questions related to the murder, for which he is going on trial in 2010.

Nel sat quietly, without making any objections to Cilliers’s line of questioning.

Cilliers told Joffe he was intending to show the court that Agliotti was not guilty of the murder, and therefore Agliotti would not incriminate himself in answering.

”I have no problem with it,” said Agliotti, but Joffe insisted that he speak to his lawyer in the murder case.

”Before I am certain every step has been taken to protect of the rights of the witness … I am reluctant to permit this,” said Joffe.

”I am happy to consult with him for a couple of minutes if it pleases you, My Lord,” replied Agliotti. — Sapa