Pretoria - Tony Yengeni, who on Thursday resigned as ANC chief whip in the wake of his arrest for alleged corruption, has probably seriously prejudiced his own legal position by placing advertisement in several Sunday newspapers, proclaiming his "innocence", in July this year.

In the advertisements Yengeni said he was questioned by National Prosecuting Authority investigators on June 29.

Details of the inquiry were not made public, since Yengeni believed it would result in "speculative and untrue accusations and innuendos" in the media.

In terms of the charge sheet submitted this week to the Cape Magistrate's Court, it had been his testimony during that particular event which had resulted in the charge of statutory perjury.

The charge sheet states that he had made false statements over the arms deal.

Yengeni said in the newspaper advertisement he had acquired his Mercedes-Benz with the assistance of Michael Woerfel of the European Aeronautics Defence Systems (EADS) a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler SA, after being approached by Woerfel.

Woerfel reportedly said it would boost vehicle marketing if a man of Yengeni’s stature was seen driving the car.

The charge sheet says Yengeni took possession of the vehicle with the intention of using his "power or influence to swing the arms procurement deal in favour or EADS".

Yengeni said he had signed a written contract of purchase with DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa), a predecessor of EADS, in October 1998.

"I have the document in my possession as proof."

He claims the purchase price of the vehicle was R230 000. However, it was damaged and he was given a discount. He also confirmed that he paid a deposit of R50 000.

The state alleges he only paid R182 563, that the vehicle had not been damaged and that no deposit was paid.

Both Yengeni and Woerfel are charged with forgery after they allegedly forged a document or agreement of purchase for the Mercedes, the charge sheet says.

Certain details of the financing agreement appear suspect, while some are back-dated.

The charge sheet also states that Yengeni appears to have deceived Dasa, the South African Parliament and government by his actions.

In the advertisement Yengeni stresses that the arms procurement process had been an "exclusive executive function of the Cabinet" in which he had no say - a direct contradiction of his alleged pledge to Woerfel.

Woerfel and Yengeni are expected to appear respectively next Wednesday and on January 25 next year in Pretoria’s commercial court on charges of corruption or alternatively fraud, forgery and perjury. 

With acknowledgement to Erika Gibson, Beeld and News24.