Selebi guilty of corruption

Judge Meyer Joffe found that the state had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Agliotti did pay money to Selebi, and that Selebi did grant him certain benefits. Although initially finding that no evidence of Agliotti would be accepted without corroboration, he found that the state had managed to get around this. On the second count of defeating the ends of justice, while Selebi had shown improper conduct with regard to his knowledge of a massive drug deal going down, the judge said the state had not shown that he had impeded or interfered with the matter in a way that could be regarded as defeating the ends of justice. The case was postponed to 14 July for sentencing, notes a Mail & Guardian Online report. Full Mail & Guardian Online report

Lies, inconsistencies, changing versions and 'incomprehensible' evidence came into focus on Friday when Joffe, resuming his judgment, immediately began his analysis of the performance of the two main trial witnesses: Selebi and Agliotti. Both Agliotti and Selebi are strangers to the truth, said Joffe, who in his evaluation of the two witnesses stated 'there's not much between them at the end of the day'. According to a report in The Star Joffe said little credence could be given to their evidence, but that unlike Agliotti, Selebi had failed to acknowledge his own untruthfulness. He said society and courts in particular relied on the integrity of policemen and women. 'The accused has not set an example that must be emulated,' he said, adding that police officers must know the importance placed on their credibility and integrity. Full report in The Star

The judge described Selebi as a person with low moral fibre, who cannot be relied upon. 'There is a stigma in society about labelling a witness a liar... But that is what the accused did,' According to a report on the IoL site Joffe said: 'It is a finding that as head of the SAPS... he had a low moral fibre and cannot be relied upon.' The judge was equally scathing of Agliotti, saying: 'Agliotti can be described as one of the most untruthful and unreliable witnesses to testify in this court. Clearly Agliotti's evidence in court must be viewed with circumspection.' Full report on the IoL site