Agrizzi to tell how Mrwebi, Jiba blocked Bosasa probes
Thousands paid to prosecutors for favours
FORMER Bosasa executive Angelo Agrizzi, looks set to be the next witness to support claims that top NPA prosecutors, advocates Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi, blocked criminal probes against his former company.
Mokgoro Inquiry evidence leaders confirmed Agrizzi was earmarked as a witness to testify against Jiba and Mrwebi on their alleged improper conduct. Agrizzi is due to testify on Friday. He has already told the Zindo inquiry into state capture that Bosasa paid Jiba R100 000 a month and Mrwebi R10 000 a month to help the company avoid criminal prosecution. He also said Bosasa had received reports about planned investigations against them.
These investigations were confirmed by two senior prosecutors, Willie Hofmeyr and Glynnis Breytenbach, now a DA MP. Agrizzi is among those arrested by the Hawks on allegations of corruption related to the company.
According to Hofmeyr, the failed Bosasa prosecutions were among the 85 high profile cases allegedly stalled by Jiba and Mrwebi since 2012.
Yesterday Hofmeyr – former Asset Forfeiture Unit head – also accused Mrwebi of having leaked crucial minutes of a Scorpions meeting to former police national commissioner Jackie Selebi. The now disbanded Scorpions, then under the NPA, convened an all important meeting on July 25, 2007, to devise a strategy which would allow the unit to remain under the NPA.
The strategic meeting happened a month after an ANC policy conference took a decision to disband the Scorpions. At the time it was widely alleged that former president Thabo Mbeki and some senior Scorpions officials were using the unit to fight political battles within the ANC, especially against those seen to be supporting Jacob Zuma – who later became ANC president in 2007.
The inquiry heard that Scorpions members were vehemently opposed to the ANC policy conference resolutions.
“The Scorpions wanted to remain under the NPA. They wanted measures in place to ensure that such a policy conference resolution was not adopted at the ANC’s elective conference in Polokwane in December 2007,” Hofmeyr said.
He said the strategy was developed while Selebi was facing criminal charges.
Hofmeyr said that in January 2008, Mrwebi supplied the minutes of the Scorpions strategic meeting to Selebi. “Mr Selebi then filed two High Court affidavits in support of his application for a permanent stay of prosecution.
“One of the affidavits was that of Glenn Agliotti and another by Lawrence Mrwebi,” Hofmeyr said.
He said Mrwebi’s affidavit detailed how the Scorpions had strategised to reverse a plan to force them to be integrated into the SAPS under Selebi.
Hofmeyr said Selebi used Mrwebi’s affidavit to argue that his prosecution was prompted by the desire of Scorpions members to remain under the NPA – but the court rejected his.
Hofmeyr said the Scorpions had wanted to remain in the NPA. But to the Scorpions’ dismay, the ANC elective conference endorsed their disbandment.
Last week Hofmeyr told the Mokgoro Inquiry that both Mrwebi and Jiba tried to block the prosecution of Selebi. Jiba had deposed an affidavit which led to the arrest of former NPA prosecutor Gerrie Nel on January 9, 2008.
Hofmeyr said during Nel’s arrest, Selebi brought an urgent stay of permanent prosecution application. During Selebi’s trial, Mrwebi – holding a senior NPA position – testified as a defence witness but no disciplinary action was taken against him, he said.