Agrizzi to launch new bid for bail

Former Bosasa COO serves notice of intent

FORMER Bosasa chief operating officer Angelo Agrizzi has set in motion his plans to be released on bail after spending two nights under lock and key in a Joburg prison following his failure to declare his multiple offshore accounts in Italy.

Agrizzi was denied bail in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday where he was appearing alongside Vincent Smith – a former ANC parliamentarian and the former chairperson of the portfolio committee on correctional services – charged with corruption.

Smith and his company Euroblitz were also charged with fraud. In that indictment – the state alleged that Agrizzi and former Bosasa CEO Gavin Watson paid gratuities of more than R800 000 to Smith while serving as chairperson of the portfolio committee on correctional services.

Smith made his first appearance on the charges on October 1 and was granted bail of R30 000.

On Wednesday, Agrizzi was not so lucky when he made his first appearance following his release from hospital. He is suffering from an undisclosed illness, and arrived in court carrying an oxygen pump unit in his hand.

He was denied bail after the prosecution led evidence that he did not disclose that he had funds in offshore accounts, including various assets beyond South Africa’s borders. The court also found that he did not disclose that he was in possession of an Italian passport when he initially appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria on February 6 last year.

In that matter, Agrizzi is facing multiple counts of fraud and corruption worth R1.9 billion, along with four others including the former National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Linda Mti.

All of them are accused of having allowed Bosasa to illegally acquire contracts at the Department of Correctional Services between 2004 and 2006. The alleged fraud and corruption were uncovered by the Special Investigating Unit ( SIU).

Agrizzi was granted bail of R20 000. He was denied bail on Wednesday after the court found that he has, since December 2018, been shipping millions of rand out of the country.

Yesterday, Aggrizi’s lawyer, Daniel Witz, confirmed that his client has granted him a power of attorney to serve papers to the Investigating Directorate, the National Prosecuting Authority ( NPA) and Magistrate Phillip Venter – who denied him bail.

“We served notice of intention to all of them today,” Witz said.

Investigating Directorate spokesperson Sindisiwe Twala confirmed that they had been notified of Agrizzi’s intention to appeal.