Reuters AlertNet Lite - Suspect in SAfrica Kebble case hit with drug charge

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Suspect in SAfrica Kebble case hit with drug charge

18 Jan 2007 15:04:35 GMT
Source: Reuters

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 18 (Reuters) - A man accused of killing South African mining tycoon Brett Kebble was charged with drug trafficking on Thursday in a separate case that prosecutors said ties him to an international criminal syndicate.

Glenn Agliotti was charged in connection with a 250 million rand ($35 million) drug bust after three other suspects agreed to testify against him, police said. Agliotti, whose lawyers have denied the charges, was released on 500,000 rand bail.

"We believe that the drugs that we seized were destined for the overseas market ... we see this as an international drug syndicate," said Makhosini Nkosi, spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority.

Agliotti was arrested in November in connection with the murder of Kebble, a colourful mining magnate shot to death gangland-style in his luxury car last year.

Agliotti's lawyers subsequently argued that Kebble's death was an "assisted suicide" made to look like a botched carjacking, and Agliotti was released on 500,000 rand bail and ordered confined to his home.

Local media have reported that associates have identified Agliotti -- the moustachioed grandson of Italian immigrants and long-time Kebble associate -- as a figure known as "the Landlord", who was behind the drug syndicate.

He had been identified as a "person of interest" following the major drug bust last year.

Revelations around Kebble's murder have generated controversy in South Africa, particularly after the country's national police chief, Jackie Selebi, admitted he was friends with Agliotti.

Selebi has denied knowledge of any wrongdoing, however, and Agliotti has also denied any criminal involvement.

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Last updated:Thu Jan 18 15:05:47 2007