He stands accused of fraud alongside former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi, who wasn’t in court on the day due to his medical condition. Aggrizi’s lawyer submitted a medical report to indicate he is medically unfit to stand trial.
During proceedings, the Investigating Directorate made an application to the court to have the matter separated so that each accused stands trial separately.
The Palm Ridge Specialised Crimes Court granted the application so as not to infringe on Smith’s constitutional right to a fair and speedy trial.
The two have been charged with corruption, while Smith faces additional charges of fraud.
The charges stem from Bosas through Agrizzi offering Smith gratifications in the form of security upgrades to his Gauteng home and Smith’s further accepting of cash transferred into his personal bank account via the bank account of his company, Euroblitz.
There are also alleged payments that were in exchange for the use of his political influence as a member of Parliament for the ruling party to shield Bosasa from accountability for corrupting officials in the Department of Correctional Services who awarded Bosasa contracts worth billions of rands.
Smith’s fraud charge emanates from his failure to disclose to the Registrar of parliamentary members’ interests the gratifications that he received from Bosasa, pursuant to the alleged corrupt activities with which he, Euroblitz and Agrizzi are charged.
The Investigating Directorate warned the court of looming charges it intends to add against Smith in the matter.
The matter has been postponed to September 28.
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