Former JCI director John Stratton has issued a statement denying he, the Kebbles or the mining company (JCI) ever bribed former police commissioner Jackie Selebi.

Selebi is currently on trial on charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice relating to money he allegedly took from Glenn Agliotti on behalf of the Kebbles and Stratton.

Stratton is living in Australia and local authorities have been trying to extradite him to South Africa to face trial along with Agliotti for Brett Kebble's murder.

In the unexpected media release Stratton accused Agliotti of trying to feed his own ego by claiming he could influence the former national police commissioner to assist JCI and Brett Kebble, and that his proposal to do so was ludicrous.

Stratton concedes that the mining company did ask Agliotti to secure an interview with senior police officials to discuss the arrest of Roger Kebble, Brett's father, and an ongoing dispute with rival mining house DRD Gold.

JCI officials subsequently met commissioners Raymond Lalla and Mulangi Mphego but Stratton says their talks bore no fruit.

The elderly executive confirms Selebi only ever attended two dinners at Brett Kebble's home and at no stage did they discuss any protection that the erstwhile police chief could offer them.

Stratton says the only important discussion that took place was about a documentary which Kebble had produced regarding allegations that certain people had tried to influence then president Thabo Mbeki and the judiciary.

Suspicious of Agliotti claims

Stratton also says he asked the police to investigate "ludicrous" claims by Agliotti that he could influence Selebi.

He alleges Agliotti approached JCI in 2003, asking for a $1.2 million payment in exchange for his influence over the former commissioner.

Stratton says Agliotti was told this proposition was "ludicrous".

During his testimony the State's star witness claimed he was paid the money as a consultancy fee.

While Stratton acknowledges R14-million was advanced to Agliotti as part of a property deal, he denies claims made by bookkeeper Martin Flint that JCI took control of shelf company Spring Lights, which was allegedly used to channel money to Selebi.

Stratton's claims could undermine part of the State's case against Selebi.

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