$ = R 7.75
£ = R 12.17
€ = R 10.22
Oil = $ 117.52
Gold = $ 1721.51
Last Update:
01:00 11 Feb 12
Glenn Agliotti outside the Johannesburg High Court
Selebi's attention popular
Article By: Fienie Grobler and Mirah Langer
Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:00
More details on the complex web of obligations and favours which
characterised the relationship between Glenn Agliotti and Jackie
Selebi emerged in court on Wednesday.
Convicted drug dealer Agliotti recalled in the High Court in
Johannesburg during Selebi's corruption trial how he kept the
former top cop's social diary full of meetings intended to
introduce him to those wanting to gain his favour.
Agliotti spoke of several meetings where Selebi and Clinton
Nassif, who was the head of slain mining magnate Brett Kebble's
security, met at Melrose Arch and Gallagher Estate office park.
"I asked the accused [Selebi] if he could please afford Nassif
the opportunity of working with the SAPS [SA Police Service]," said
Agliotti.
He also spoke of a meeting he organised between Selebi and
Jordanian billionaire Eyhab Jumean, who was involved with South
African model Gina Athans whom he later married and then divorced.
Jumean was allegedly the victim of an extortion plot for #500 000 by police reservist and former reality TV contestant Brad
Wood, who had apparently had a prior relationship with Athans.
"He [Jumean] wanted the accused [Selebi] to know a South African
was blackmailing this international businessman and the person
doing this blackmailing was a police reservist...
"He [Selebi] would have this incident investigated."
Agliotti also spoke of a time when ? while on his way to a
holiday in Mauritius with his family ? he was stopped before
boarding an aircraft by a policeman who asked him for some
particulars.
"From the aircraft I called the accused to tell him what
happened and said it was rather embarrassing, especially in front
of the kids."
He alleged Selebi asked him for the officer's name, which he did
not know.
"I left it at that".
Agliotti said he also asked Selebi to intervene in a neighbour's
housebreaking at a complex he was staying at in Morningside,
calling him from the crime scene.
"He [Selebi] asked who was the investigating officer on the
scene. I enquired and it was a police reservist by the name of
Shlugman. I spoke to Shlugman and handed the phone to him to speak
to the accused."
State prosecutor Gerrie Nel also read out an e-mail written by
former security official Paul O'Sullivan to the National
Prosecuting Authority.
In the e-mail O'Sullivan claimed Nassif at one stage handed
R50 000 in cash to Selebi.
But Selebi's lawyer, Jaap Cilliers, objected to the e-mail,
saying it contained untested allegations that had been denied by
Nassif.
Agliotti became aware of the e-mail after Selebi contacted and
gave it to him, with other documents, in the parking lot of Makro
in Woodmead, Johannesburg.
Nel asked: "Why did the accused, as the head of the police, hand
[the document] over to this witness in a parking [lot]?"
Earlier, the court heard Agliotti was never questioned by any
South African police officer about drug trafficking, despite UK
intelligence officers closely monitoring him.
"Have you ever been confronted by any member of the South
African Police Service about drug trafficking?" Nel asked.
"No," Agliotti replied.
He was finally arrested on a charge of drug dealing in 2006, the
same year an investigation started into his old friend, Selebi.
Agliotti said Selebi had showed him a report by UK intelligence
authorities detailing his movements abroad.
"He [Selebi] wanted to make me aware of the fact that the
authorities in the UK were monitoring my movements and he told me
so."
The UK report detailed Agliotti's trips to London, his contact
details and alleged that he transported significant quantities of
cocaine.
In the report UK authorities asked if their South African
counterparts could give them more information on Agliotti and
Nassif.
Earlier Judge Meyer Joffe granted an application by the State to
amend the charge sheet to include dates in 2006.
The admissibility of documents, including the UK report, were
called into question because of what Nel said was a typing error.
It stated Selebi's alleged crimes were committed between 2000 and
2005, instead of between 2000 and 2006.
The UK report was discussed between Selebi and Agliotti in 2006.
Agliotti also alleged that even former president Thabo Mbeki was
an intended recipient of one of his shopping purchases.
"I definitely bought shoes for the accused [former top cop
Jackie Selebi] and for one other person," Agliotti testified.
Nel asked him who this person was.
"The ex-president, Mr Thabo Mbeki. We were at Grays. The accused
was looking to buy the president a pair of shoes. I just happened
to be with them. He needed to buy a size 7 because the president
had small and broad feet. They proceeded to show us a few pairs and
then I asked the shop assistant to please put that pair of shoes on
my account as I wished to purchase them for the president."
On Wednesday, Agliotti once again seemed determined not to make
eye contact with Selebi, who has called him his "friend, finish and
klaar".
Judge Meyer Joffee seemed to show some kindness towards Selebi.
Towards the end of the day's proceedings, he said: "I'm not sure
the dock is very comfortable. Maybe you should bring a cushion."
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 Agliotti, Kebble and ex-Hyundai boss and
mining businessman Billy Rautenbach.