Bosasa bribe upped to R750k when Tom Moyane appointed commissioner – Agrizzi
The former COO says this was when the ex-Sars boss was appointed the commissioner of correctional services.
Former SA Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner, Tom Moyane. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Bosasa former chief operating officer (COO) Angelo Agrizzi told the commission of inquiry into state capture on Monday that the monthly R500,000 bribe the company paid to officials at the department of correctional services was increased to R750,000 per month when axed South African Revenue Services (Sars) boss Tom Moyane was appointed the commissioner of correctional services.
Agrizzi said the bribes were paid between 2008 and 2016 with Sesinyi Seopela the one who would send the bribes to the officials in the department.
He described Seopela as an influential person who gave accurate and useful information to the company which would assist it with securing tenders.
Seopela would request an amount from Agrizzi which he would apparently pack, adding that he started packing the money in 2009.
Agrizzi said Seopela would sometimes tell him from which department the officials would be paid money, however, he would not provide specific details and would not divulge the names of those officials.
Agrizzi said he raised this issue with the company’s CEO, Gavin Watson, who responded by saying that he, Agrizzi, should just accede to Seopela’s requests.
“Those were bribes, chair,” Agrizzi told the commission.
He said the bribes were hiked to R750,000 when Moyane was appointed as commissioner of the department.
“It was told to me by Seopela, so I had to increase the amount that was packed,” Agrizzi said
He said he knew where the money “has been” and that anyone could easily deduce some of the officials who received the bribes.
Agrizzi’s testimony has been adjourned until 3pm
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