No dinner for votes, says Selebi

He said, 'Trust me on Selebi'. And went on to say, 'If anyone has evidence of wrong doing on the part of the commissioner, please bring it to me'. It is obvious now, that no one brought forth such evidence.

Agliotti sounds like a very unreliable witness. What a pity that he will get off scott free and presumably Selebi too. Justice? What justice!

there must be grounds here to withdraw his immunity? He's meant to be 'frank and honest' according to the above. He seems incapable of achieving either.

He will probably found innocent, then he will sue the state for millions, which after he will probably disappear into the private sector
The question that everyone failed to answer is why is it that the police commissioner, is friends with a drug lord?

the question has been answered in as lucid a manner as can be: Undisputed evidence has already been presented that the friendship was based on the deception, afforded by Agliotti to the former police commissioner, that he (Agliotti) was an international businessman of some repute.

Charges must just be dropped to avoid waste of money. Government should focus on eradicating poverty than wasting time and money on such.

No Political Connection

Freedom of Association! We shouldn't look at this individual and isolate his freindship with Selebi because Agglioti was frends with quite a few prominent figures in the private and public sector. Being frends with Agglioti while holding such a position as Commissioner does comprimises your integrity and loyalty... But that is not illegal and does not require a courtroom to resolve...

HOWEVER...

The question that the courts MUST answer is whether Selebi used his influence and position to ensure that Agglioti is protected from any form of prosecution?

And so far, the NPA have failed dismally in it's prosecution...

Agliotti should be locked up the moment he steps off the witness stand. This blatant lying under oath is ‘defeating the ends of justice’. An example should be made. If nothing happens to this liar whats stopping other criminals/alibi’s/witnesses etc from lying. Is that not what the oath is for in the first place; to warn people that if they lie in court they will be held accountable/punished for doing so? Send Agliotti to jail ASAP.

2boy The One

'...the NPA have failed dismally in it's prosecution..'

Spot on!!

"frankly and honestly" is open to all sorts of intepretation as the terms are wide in their scope and definition.this witness has clearly not adhered to the terms of the indemnity agreement.now,what will happen when the state has conclusively determined that their 'star'witness is nothing but a fraud and an opportunist?i still,say it serves the state right for making indemnity deals with criminals.

First is either this guy is doing it intentionally to let Selebi go or Selebi is innocent which i believe. First Oom Jacki can simply say he wanted to be closed to Agliotti so that he can find more debt on those former head of Scorpion or simply say he didn't know he was a criminal. Anyway Selebi is a rich man, he is going to sue us tax payer for the things we didn't even have control. Why did NPA wanted to take Selebi to court if they didn't have evidence from the begging? I think commission of inquiry should be made so that people inside NPA who are responsible for this mess should be punished

2Boy The One. For once I agree with you. Well said. Selebi was free to associate with whom ever he wanted to. Who are we to judge him on that? It was probably a genuine friendship. It is possible that Agliotti deceived him for a long time.

However, the question of the (alleged) payments does leave a big question mark. The court must determine if it was for and an improper purpose. If it cannot do that then he is not guilty. I am not a Selebi fan but the last thing I want is to see is an innocent man's (if he is innocent) life, career and integrity left in tatters after this. So far Jaap Cilliers has done a good job on the defense.

But, we still have a long way to go as there are a number of counts on the charge sheet and a string of witnesses still to testify.

What I like about this trial of Selebi and the evidence of Agliotti, is that it is so non racial.....both are corrupt crooks in cahoots with each other. They were such good friends right across the colour bar, true non racialists!

Beware of deja vu!

In 15 months Agliotti, sitting in jail for failing to testify 'frankly and honestly', serving a 20 year sentence for corruption and defeating the ends of justice, gets 'terminal depression', or terminal pizza craving, and gets released do die in dignity in his Durban mansion for the next 20 years.

Beware!

Mandingo, your brain is in overdrive, but thanks for the pun, intended or not.

Kwena,
Jacqui,
2boy,
Mohapi
Please...please...people! The matter is sub judice. Let's stop tying ourselves in technical and procedural knots while we know precious little regarding the law of evidence and how it applies in cases where an accomplice is turned into a state witness. This is the first witness, whose evidence the court approaches with caution, as is required. As to the plea that the case be withdrawn, please Jacquie, cases are not withdrawn after the accused has pleaded and evidence has begun. Don't be emotional because you don't know what further evidence is in the hands of one of our most tenacious prosecutors, Gerrie Nel.

2 Boy, there is freedom of association, and the we can befriend whom we want, yes.
However, questions that needs to be asked
1. Did Selebi knew either before he entered the friendship or during his friendship with Ugly-oti, that he was a drug lord?
2. If he knew or it was brought under his attention what did he do?
3. Where there is a smoke there must be a fire. My question is let’s say Selebi is innocent, who is it that want him away and why? did he get in the way of the Scorpions? Why is it that institutions that is set up to protect me and you, is being used, manipulated, in such a way that one don’t know who to trust or not to trust?

Gauta,you obviosly know a precious more regarding the law of evidence than your subjects of scrutiny!i'd be surprised if you're not a prosecutor in one of our overburdened,short-staffed,low-moraled magistrates courts.or perhaps you're one of the recently graduated law students.you obviuosly hold Gerrie Nel in high regard.good that-having someone to look up to.as you say,this matter is sub judice and that is a principle to be jealously guarded especially in these now common so-called high level cases.