By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The corruption case against former ANC MP Vincent Smith and his co-accused, former Bosasa chief operating officer Angelo Agrizzi on Friday was postponed to 8 July 2021.
This after the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Investigating Directorate (ID) received a full medical record from Agrizzi’s doctors following concerns about his health.
Smith made a brief appearance in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on fraud and corruption charges related to alleged payments he received from the corruption-accused company, Bosasa.
Agrizzi did not show up in court again due to ill-health.
Smith’s legal team argued on Friday the delays in proceeding with the trial has been prejudicial to their client. They want the trial to be separated in the interests of justice.
ID spokesperson Sindisiwe Twala said the case was postponed for the State to determine whether the trial should be separated.
“The determination should be made before 8 July 2021. When we return to court we should either bring an application or tell the court what we think is the best way to proceed with the case, “she said.
In March, the case was postponed after Agrizzi failed to appear in court due to ill-health. The State requested a full medical report on his condition.
He was later granted bail by the Johannesburg High Court in October. Smith was released on R30,000 bail.
Their bail conditions remained the same.
The pair are charged with contravening Section 7 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
Smith faces corruption charges related to a CCTV and security system installed at his home in October 2014 and two payments totalling R671 000 to his company, Euro Blitz, in 2015 and 2016.