Convicted drug trafficker Glenn Agliotti took money intended to bribe former top cop Jackie Selebi and kept it for himself, the defence alleged in the High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

During cross-examination, defence lawyer Jaap Cilliers put forward that Selebi was a victim of a process called "knocking" when Agliotti took a "consulting fee" of around R12-million to R13-million for giving murdered mining magnate Brett Kebble and his associates access to Selebi.

"If you indeed indicated to Kebble and [John] Stratton that you could bribe the accused if you provided them with the money and you kept the largest portion for yourself, that would have been a textbook case of knocking," said Cilliers.

"The difference is I never said that I bribed the accused, but yes," said Agliotti.

Cilliers said Selebi's version was that "nothing went to him, you knocked the Kebbles, Stratton".

"Yes, that's his version," said Agliotti, dressed in a dark suit and sky blue tie.

Cilliers said it was in Agliotti's interest to dispute this allegation because if he had admitted to defrauding the Kebbles, it would have meant he could not cut a deal with the Scorpions.

Agliotti will receive indemnity from any charges related to the Selebi case if he answers all questions frankly and honestly.

"It is extremely important for you to convey to the honourable court that you have indeed paid something to the accused."

"A portion, I did not say everything," replied Agliotti, however denying this issue of payment was a basis for his deal with the Scorpions.

'For auditing purposes'

Earlier, Agliotti seemed to lose his cool during questions accusing him of having cooked his books in order to receive a $1-million consulting fee from Brett Kebble, and his father Roger, in the form of an apparent "loan".

"Initially they [the Kebbles] were to pay me the consulting fee. They then for purposes within the JCI said they would draw up a loan agreement... for auditing purposes," said Agliotti, referring to mining company JCI Limited.

"You assisted them to cook their books," Cilliers suggested.

"They cooked their own books and they did a lot of it."

Cilliers said the cooking did not stop there: "You also cooked your own books."

"I'm not an auditor," replied Agliotti.

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 ex-Hyundai boss Billy Rautenbach.

Read more from the Selebi trial...