Publications
Partners
- Angelo Agrizzi's inquiry into his continued absence from court continued in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday.
- A pulmonologist who assessed Agrizzi a year ago says the former Bosasa COO would not be able to physically attend court because of his condition.
- The doctor added that Agrizzi's condition would improve if he lost weight.
A pulmonologist who assessed Angelo Agrizzi a year ago says the former Bosasa COO-turned-whistleblower is not able to physically attend court because of his condition - but if he lost about 50kg his condition would improve.
Dr Emmanuel Taban was testifying in an inquiry into Agrizzi’s continued absence from court since October 2020 to face corruption charges.
Taban told the inquiry, held in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, that should Agrizzi lose weight, his lungs would expand, resulting in his condition improving.
He said while Agrizzi was not able to physically attend court because of his condition, it was possible for the former Bosasa COO to attend court virtually at a hearing of one to two hours with short breaks.
"If the State wants to try him physically, there should be complete medical support, but that is going to be expensive and a logistical nightmare," he said, adding that for Agrizzi, who has obesity, it was possible to develop other conditions.
He said because lawyers were not equipped to deal with medical complications, Agrizzi should not attend court physically.
He also said Agrizzi's severe anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder also showed "he may not be good in court so, he should be in his own environment".
READ | Angelo Agrizzi's condition seems to be 'worsening' - doctor tells court
Asked by Agrizzi's lawyer Mannie Witz if it was correct to say Agrizzi needed to be on supplementary oxygen 24/7, the doctor agreed.
Taban said that while Agrizzi's problem was severe, the danger for him was that he has been using "super high oxygen" that is not required.
He said Agrizzi only needed two to four litres of oxygen, not up to 10 litres per minute as stated by Agrizzi’s lawyer.
But Judge David Makhoba said he was not interested in how many litres of oxygen was needed but wanted to know from the doctor if it was feasible or not for Agrizzi to attend court.
Taban confirmed it was not feasible for Agrizzi to physically attend court.
Agrizzi failed to appear in court several times due to his ailing health.
News24 previously reported that Agrizzi had suffered a heart attack while in prison and had to be put on life support. He spent an evening in prison before he was rushed to a public hospital.
From there, he was transferred to a private hospital because his condition worsened.
Agrizzi is charged with fraud and corruption relating to tenders between Bosasa and the Department of Correctional Services.
The criminal case involves four tenders valued at more than R1.8 billion, which were awarded to Bosasa and its subsidiaries between August 2004 and 2007.
READ | Angelo Agrizzi has neurological brain damage - doctor tells court
News24 previously reported the tenders were for catering and training services, the installation of CCTV cameras, the installation of perimeter fencing, the supply of a television system, and equipment monitoring.
It is alleged these tenders were obtained through corruption.
In October 2020, Agrizzi was denied bail in a separate case in which he was accused of paying bribes to former ANC MP Vincent Smith.
The inquiry continues on Wednesday.
