Defence acquisitions chief Shamin (Chippy) Shaik has been suspended from his post, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said earlier today. He said the move followed after he became aware of allegations that Shaik had disclosed classified information without authorisation in violation of the law.

"He is to be immediately removed from the premises and will not be allowed to enter any military installation or the headquarters of the Department of Defence," Lekota told reporters in Pretoria. He said the alleged transgression was committed between October 1 and November 1 this year.

The information allegedly improperly disclosed to members of the public by Shaik did not relate to the three-agency probe into South Africa's multi-billion rand arms deal. It was also unrelated to charges against Shaik's brother, Schabir, who appeared in court on Friday after classified documents including Cabinet minutes were allegedly found in his possession, Lekota said. He said he had asked Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations.

Shaik was suspended with full pay pending the outcome of this investigation.

The probe into the arms deal found that there had been a conflict of interest in Shaik's role in the procurement of the strategic arms package. This arose from the shareholding of his brother Schabir in the Thomson Group and African Defence Systems which benefited from the arms deal.

With acknowledgement to Sapa and iafrica.com.