The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has ordered former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi to be referred for mental evaluation to determine his fitness to stand trial in the R1.8 billion Bosasa tender fraud case. 

TENDER FRAUD

The court made the order on Thursday, 28 September during his virtual appearance in court for fraud and corruption relating to tenders between the Department of Correctional Services and Bosasa. The matter involves four tenders Bosasa acquired, valued at more than R1.8 billion, between August 2004 and 2007.

POSTPONED

Judge David Makhoba said the court requires professionals to make an evaluation and decide whether he is mentally fit to stand trial. This is after a testimony by neurosurgeon Dr Herman Edeling in March 2022, told the court that the former Bosasa boss had brain damage and did not meaningfully participate in court proceedings. "Taking into account the evidence that was led during the inquiry, especially the evidence of Dr. Edeling, this court is in doubt as to whether Mr. Agrizzi will be able to follow and contribute meaningfully to his defence during the trial," Makhoba wrote in his judgment.

THE CHARGES

Agrizzi was the COO of the logistics company Bosasa until 2016. He is best known for blowing the whistle on corruption during his testimony at the Zondo Commission. His testimony followed a press statement released on the night of 21 August 2018, in which he stated that he wanted to provide comprehensive details about "racketeering, corruption and money laundering that I have been aware of over the last 18 years" at Bosasa. He and CFO Andries van Tonder are accused alongside correctional services ex-commissioner Linda Mti and ex-CFO Patrick Gillingham of four irregular tenders awarded to Bosasa and its subsidiaries for catering, training services, installing CCTV cameras, installing perimeter fencing and supplying a television system and monitoring equipment. The matter has been postponed to 31 October.