Ernest Mabuza
13 November 2009
Johannesburg — A REPORT from UK authorities on the activities of Glenn Agliotti -- since convicted of drug dealing -- disappeared from a police office in 2006, the high court in Johannesburg heard yesterday.
In his testimony in the corruption trial of former police commissioner Jackie Selebi last month, Agliotti said that in August 2006 Selebi showed him a report with a coat of arms and words including "Her Majesty's Customs" and said the report detailed trips Agliotti took to London with his associate, Clinton Nassif.
In his testimony yesterday, commissioner Mark Hankel, a senior official in crime intelligence, said six UK reports were submitted to his office in which authorities from that country sought assistance on Agliotti.
Asked by prosecutor Gerrie Nel to describe the report Agliotti claimed Selebi had shown him, Hankel said it could only be described as the August 3 2004 report which was booked out of the intelligence offices on April 21 2006 and never seen again.
Selebi has pleaded not guilty to corruption and defeating the ends of justice. The charges relate to payments he allegedly received from Agliotti and others in return for favours. Among the favours is that Selebi allegedly showed Agliotti a report from UK authorities on Agliotti's involvement in drug trafficking.
Defence advocate Jaap Cilliers said a Capt Thema filed an affidavit with the prosecution in which he said he took the file after it was requested by the South African Revenue Service. Thema said under oath he had returned the file. Hankel disputed that.
Hankel also testified police had telephone records showing 57 calls in the period July 1 to August 14 2004 between Selebi and Agliotti. Of those calls, 41 were made by Agliotti to Selebi.
Cilliers said most of the calls by Selebi were short, suggesting that someone was leaving a message instead of talking to the person on the other side.
Another witness, police reservist Aubrey Shlugman, told the court that Agliotti had given him a cellphone and that Shlugman had spoken to Selebi while at a crime scene.
Shlugman said he responded to a call that a robbery was under way in an apartment block close to Sandton police station.
Shlugman said while he was processing the complaint, a man on a cellphone entered the apartment, tapped him on his shoulder and told him the commissioner would like to speak to him.
"He said it was the national commissioner. I introduced myself and recognised the voice as that of the accused before the court," said Shlugman.
He had briefed Selebi, who then said: "He is a good friend of mine, Mr Agliotti."
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