Former police head Jackie Selebi told his once-friend Glenn Agliotti that the Scorpions should go, the court heard on Tuesday.
"He [Selebi] indicated that the DSO [Directorate of Special Operations] should be absorbed within SAPS [SA Police Service]", the convicted drug trafficker turned State witness told Selebi's corruption trial in the High Court in Johannesburg.Agliotti said he had not had contact with the DSO - or Scorpions - before his arrest in 2006.
Asked by prosecutor Gerrie Nel how he then knew about alleged tension between the DSO and SAPS, Agliotti said it was through Selebi and the media.
"He [Selebi] said as far as he was concerned the DSO should be absorbed into SAPS and he had discussed it with the then president [Thabo Mbeki]," said Agliotti.
A replacement crime fighting unit for the Scorpions, the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation - also known as the Hawks - was launched in July this year.
The ruling African National Congress adopted a resolution in 2007 to create the new unit within the police, moving it out of the justice department.
During his re-examination, Agliotti also testified that Selebi asked him for a payment the day after mining magnate Brett Kebble was shot dead in 2005.
The court heard that Agliotti was on his way to the morgue to identify Kebble's body when he received a call from Selebi.
"The day after Kebble died, I had to go to the mortuary to identify the body In the car driving to the morgue I received a call from the accused and I had a conversation with him whereby he requested a sum of money."
Kebble was shot dead in his car in Melrose, Johannesburg, on the night of September 27, 2005. Agliotti was arrested for the murder in November 2006 and was set to go on trial next year.
The court heard a further example of Agliotti's generosity. "I love giving presents I would buy all the air hostesses in first class perfume," he said during testimony.
On Tuesday morning, altercations between the State and defence seemed to take up more court time than actual witness testimony.
Agliotti's re-examination was disrupted by lengthy disputes between defence lawyer Jaap Cilliers and Nel.
The two parties argued about the mandate of re-examination, with Cilliers accusing Nel several times of trying to cross-examine Agliotti or to introduce new evidence.
"My learned friend cannot try to obtain a different answer because he does not like the previous answer," said Cilliers.
At another point, he said: "Repetition doesn't make argument stronger."
Nel appeared upset when Cilliers accused him of trying to introduce evidence to create media hype.
"This is the second time that he accuses me of playing for the media. Perhaps he is, but I definitely am not," he said adamantly.
At another point Nel angrily denied Cilliers accusation that his line of questioning was an attempt to exonerate himself.
"Mr Cilliers gets up and he always makes all these allegations and certainly one has so much patience and that's it. "My intention is not to exonerate myself. It is to get to the truth."
As the time for the tea break came, Nel asked the court to adjourn so he could "calm down".
"Mr Nel, don't take umbrage at the objection. Let's rather make progress," Judge Meyer Joffe told him.
"It's difficult Everyone must maintain a calmness and we will get through what we need to get through," he added in measured tones.
In terms of a deal Agliotti made with the State in the Selebi case, he would receive indemnity from prosecution on various charges if he testified "frankly and honestly".
Selebi is facing a charge of corruption and another of defeating the ends of justice in connection with at least R1.2 million he allegedly received from Agliotti and others in return for favours.
