Alleged drug bosses acquitted

2011-04-05 15:20

Johannesburg - The three men who were accused of drug dealing related to a R250m consignment were acquitted in the Germiston Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, the SABC reported.

Magistrate Deon Snyman said the State had failed to prove its case against Stephen Paparas, his father Dimitri and Stanley Poonin beyond all doubt.

The three were on trial for a drug syndicate bust in 2006 where a ton of hashish was recovered by the Scorpions.

Convicted drug dealer and freed murder accused Glenn Agliotti was linked to the consignment.

Snyman said that the main players in the international drug syndicate were let off the hook through plea bargain agreements.

Agliotti and three other syndicate members, Pedro Marques, Christiaan Alblas and Robert Lottman, were earlier convicted and agreed to testify in exchange for lenient sentences.

Agliotti was handed a 10-year-suspended sentence and fined R500 000.

- SAPA

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