Convicted drug dealer Glenn Agliotti will take the witness stand for a third day on Thursday in the graft trial of former top cop Jackie Selebi.
Glenn Agliotti on Wednesday finished his second day in the witness box with chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel telling Judge Meyer Joffe there was just one major topic left on which Agliotti would be led before the state is done with their star witness.
Selebi’s counsel, Jaap Cilliers, is then expected to start cross-examining Agliotti.
Nel spent most part of Wednesday afternoon questioning Agliotti about all the favours he allegedly received from Selebi. The state claims that Selebi acted corruptly in exchange for money and clothes from Agliotti.
Agliotti has been testifying against Selebi in the high court in Johannesburg, revealing an intricate web of connections between himself, slain mining magnate Brett Kebble, former Hyundai boss Billy Rautenbach — who recently made a deal with authorities on 326 tax-evasion charges — top security officers and Selebi.
Selebi is facing two counts of corruption and defeating the ends of justice.
The State, in papers before the court, alleges that ”Agliotti and/or Kebble and or Rautenbach and/or the relevant corporate entities have benefited the accused … in an amount of at least but not restricted to R1,2 million”.
Agliotti received indemnity from prosecution if he testified against Selebi and answered ”frankly and honestly”, according to a deal with the State. He is still facing a murder charge for Kebble’s death in 2005.
On Wednesday, Agliotti testified that he was handed an email message, sent by Paul O’Sullivan to Scorpions investigator Robin Plitt in 2006, containing sensitive information regarding the investigation into Selebi and Agliotti. O’Sullivan, the former head of security at OR Tambo airport, was a key whistle-blower in the Selebi case and brought numerous witnesses and information to the Scorpions.
Selebi allegedly told Agliotti he should give the document to his legal team. ”He [Selebi] said this could discredit the Scorpions because they were clearly using O’Sullivan in this investigation.”
Agliotti also testified that on one of his shopping trips at upmarket stores in Sandton City with Selebi, Selebi ”indicated that he needed to buy shoes” for former president Thabo Mbeki.
”He told the shop’s assistants that he needed a size seven, because the president had small and broad feet.” Agliotti said he put the shoes on his account, but doesn’t know what happened to them after they left the store.