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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
- Lawyers for former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi filed a request to appeal a court’s decision to deny him bail.
- This since Agrizzi was rushed to the hospital after spending his first night in prison.
- Magistrate Phillip Venter, who presided over Agrizzi’s bail request, discovered that there was a prima facie case against him.
Former Bosasa director of operations Angelo Agrizzi had appealed to the court to consider his poor health and the state of the prisons before he was denied bail. After spending his first night behind bars, he was taken to the hospital.
In this context, his attorneys have again approached the Commercial Crimes Court, which is located at the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court, in an attempt for his release.
In documents filed Thursday, they argued that Magistrate Philip Venter had erred in ruling in a case in which Agrizzi faces a corruption charge for allegedly making payments to former ANC deputy Vincent Smith.
News24 previously reported that security cameras and an electric fence were installed at Smith’s home in Roodepoort.
Venter said he was satisfied that a prima facie case had been filed against Agrizzi.
In his opinion, he added that he was satisfied that Agrizzi had the financial means to establish and maintain a “comfortable lifestyle” elsewhere, should he decide to elope.
Money moved abroad
The court heard that he had allegedly withheld information about the value of his assets and, together with his wife Deborah, transferred millions of rand abroad and to cryptocurrency accounts.
The State had established in an affidavit that, in light of the evidence of money movements abroad, Agrizzi may be a flight risk.
But he argued in addition to a mere suspicion or opinion of the investigating officer that he represented a flight risk, the State had no evidence that he would try to evade and not be tried.
Agrizzi said in his appeal notice that he had no prior convictions, that he had cooperated with authorities and appeared in court when required without fail.
He believed that the court had not properly taken into account that he had reported the loss of his Italian passport and stated that he would not apply for any passports or travel documents.
“The learned regional magistrate made a further mistake in concluding that the appellant, who was assisting the state’s capture commission, was establishing a life outside of South Africa and was considering his options once his complaint had begun. “, your appeal notice read.
“… and this is most particularly true when … [Venter] he applauded the appellant and stated that more people should have the guts to speak up about the wrongdoing and further found that the appellant had cooperated with the investigating officer. “
Chronic medical conditions
Agrizzi said that the evidence and reasons regarding the sale of his motorized vehicles were indisputable and that all transfers were made through the authorities and with the approval of the Reserve Bank.
“This disclosure was in fact made to South African Revenue Services.”
Agrizzi arrived in court this week with a mobile oxygen unit and did not seem as energetic as usual.
His attorneys said in the appeal notice that Venter did not adequately take into account Agrizzi’s chronic medical conditions and that he was dependent on a permanent supply of supplemental oxygen.
His age and comorbidities should have been a consideration, they argued.
“… also did not take into account the risks of life in prison, the lack of medical facilities and the increase of Covid-19 in the closed environment of the Department of Correctional Services and, in particular, in the Johannesburg Central Prison, where he is being held. “
Correctional Services spokesman Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed Thursday that Agrizzi was taken to the hospital “for further medical attention.”
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