Richard Young, the MD of Communications Computer Intelligence Integration Systems (CCII), today denied carrying out media campaigns to discredit the arms procurement process. 

Young was being cross-examined after giving testimony into government investigation of the multi-billion arms deal. 

Michael Kuper, the legal council for the Department of Defence, reminded Young that there had been hundreds of bidders in the arms package, but there was no litigation by any of those who lost out. 

Kuper also questioned the motive behind omitting certain parts of the report in his testimony. In his response, Young said he could not reveal everything because it would be a far too lengthy submission.

He added that he had submitted some of the information to the forensic investigations. 

When Kuper asked why Young engaged in a media campaign, he said he had been approached by the media and he made use of the opportunity. 

Young contends there were irregularities in the awarding of a R40 million tender for information management systems (IMS) used in the four corvette ships South Africa bought under the arms package.

CCII was named the preferred supplier of these systems, Young claims. The tender was, however, awarded to French company Detexis. Detexis is the sister company of African Defence Systems (ADS), of which arms acquisition head Chippy Shaik's brother, Shabir, is a shareholder and director. 

With acknowledgment to Sapa and SABC News.