Household renovations made by corruption accused former top cop Jackie Selebi can explain certain of his spending patterns, the High Court in Johannesburg heard on Tuesday.

Defence lawyer Jaap Cilliers put to forensic investigator Dean Friedman that rather than a drop in expenditure in 2005, Selebi might have spent particularly high amounts in the months preceding.

Friedman, the fourth witness to take the stand, is testifying about a KPMG audit report into Selebi's financial affairs, as well as the bank account for the company Spring Lights.

He previously said "inferences" could be drawn from the fact that Selebi's expenditure on his cheque account and credit cards dropped in 2005.

However, Cilliers, his hair wet with sweat, put it to the auditor that rather than a drop in expenditure, Selebi had spent more money than usual before 2005.

"It's not a situation where you have a dramatic downfall in payments of the account. Rather it's where you have an upsurge in the payments [in the period] preceding it," the defence lawyer said.

Cilliers then detailed cheque payments made out to companies with names which Friedman agreed had "characteristics of those involved in housebuilding".

Cilliers also indicated cheques made out from Selebi's account to Rosebank College and the University of Johannesburg.

"The reason for the upsurge in payments in the period [preceding that] reported in the report, are the household renovations at the end of 2004 as well as certain housework in mid-2005, as well as the university fees," Cilliers said.

The court also heard that Selebi's wife Anne was in charge of their household's accounts.

"As far as financial affairs, Mrs Selebi was in complete control of all affairs. Mr Selebi was not the kind of person who involved himself in all these issues," said Cilliers.

He also indicated to the court the existence of a savings account in Mrs Selebi's name. The account records showed she got a policy pay-out apparently related to the death of her sister, as well as deposits from a small business she ran selling linen and blankets.

Friedman said certain "inferences" could be drawn from the fact that Selebi kept large amounts of cash in a low interest-bearing account in 2005.

"One can infer a number of things. Mr Selebi might not have been financially as astute, which clearly is a criticism of his financial management. Or that there was such a flow of cash. If you have a lot of cash that becomes available, as has been alleged with Mr Selebi, then it can be an inference that can be drawn."

Selebi faces a charge of corruption and another of defeating the ends of justice in connection with at least R1.2-million he allegedly received from Agliotti and others in return for favours from 2005 to 2006.

During cross examination on Tuesday, Cilliers put it to Friedman that neither the KPMG report nor his evidence showed any unexplained cash payments or credit cards going into Selebi's account.

"You could find no cash that could not be explained from the legitimate earnings for the accused. There was no cash that you could not find the source of."

Friedman replied: "Yes, there is none."

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