Schabir Shaik, a bidding contractor in South Africa's multibillion-rand arms procurement deal, will appear in the Durban regional court on Monday.

He was released on R1 000 bail last year after allegedly being found in possession of cabinet minutes in which South Africa's arms deal was discussed, as well as correspondence between the departments of public enterprises and defence. Shaik is charged with the theft of the documents, and with an offence under the Protection of Information Act. Shaik's brother, Shamin "Chippy" Shaik, was head of acquisitions in the department of defence at the time of the arrest.

He has since been suspended for allegedly disclosing confidential information to unauthorised recipients, without authorisation and in violation of the Defence Act. Meanwhile, suspended arms acquisition chief Shamin Shaik was found guilty by the department of defence of illegally disclosing confidential information contained in the auditor-general's draft report on the controversial arms deal late last year.

The Sunday Independent reported that department of defence spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi said the inquiry into Shaik's alleged misconduct would reconvene next week to decide on the sentence. He would not divulge details of the findings against Shaik, saying that they related to "the illegal disclosure of the information".

Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota banned Shaik from setting his foot in any military installation or headquarters of the department of defence. An auditor-general's draft report, which was critical of Shaik's involvement in the arms deal was handed to Lekota late last year. Lekota then instructed Joy Ratebe, his legal adviser, to give the report to Shaik for comment. Shaik passed the report to his lawyers who took up the issue with Shauket Fakie, the auditor-general. Shaik was then charged with misconduct for disclosing details of the report to his lawyers.

With acknowledgement to www.iol.co.za.