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Former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi appears in Palm Ridge Magistrates Court for a corruption and fraud case on October 14, 2020
PHOTO: Gallo Images / OJ Koloti
- Agrizzi, a former chief operating officer for Bosasa, is in hospital receiving medical care after being denied bail on Wednesday.
- Since then, his lawyers have appealed to the Superior Court.
- It is unclear when Agrizzi will be discharged, as he is under observation after testing negative for Covid-19.
Former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi tested negative for Covid-19, his lawyer Daniel Witz confirmed to News24 on Friday.
Witz said Agrizzi remained in a Johannesburg hospital where tests were still underway and is under observation.
“They are waiting for the test results and monitoring his health as we are. Right now I don’t really have an update if they are going to discharge him, when they are going to discharge him,” Witz said.
Agrizzi was transferred from prison to hospital Thursday afternoon, the Department of Correctional Services said.
He was scheduled to appear in Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court on Friday, alongside former Prison Services CFO Patrick Gillingham, former Prison Services Chief Linda Mti and Bosasa’s former CFO Andries van Tonder.
The defendants are accused of several charges of money laundering and violations of the Laws of Prevention and Management of Public Finances and Combating Corrupt Activities.
However, the matter was postponed due to Agrizzi being admitted to the hospital.
The embattled former chief operating officer was denied bail by the Commercial Crimes Court sitting in Palm Ridge Magistrates Court on Wednesday. He appeared in a case where he faces a corruption charge related to allegedly making payments to former ANC MP Vincent Smith.
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The court determined that a prima facie a case was filed against Agrizzi, who appeared alongside his co-defendant, Smith.
In his view, Judge Phillip Venter also said that he was satisfied that Agrizzi had the financial means to establish and maintain a “comfortable lifestyle” elsewhere, should he decide to escape.
Agrizzi’s lawyers are appealing the ruling.
Witz told News24 that the appeal documents were filed in the Johannesburg High Court on Thursday and they were awaiting a date for discussion.
He said the next step was for the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court charge sheet to also be filed with the Superior Court along with the recordings of the bail proceedings.
“We [are] saying that certain aspects were not taken into consideration and that the magistrate was wrong or wrong in certain findings and that in that sense he should be released on bail, “said Witz.
News24 previously reported that in the service of appeal documentsAgrizzi’s lawyers argued that Venter did not take due account of his chronic medical conditions and that he was dependent on a permanent supply of supplemental oxygen, which he was seen carrying in court.
