Pretoria - Scorpions head Percy Sonn declined to comment on Wednesday on whether any further arrests could be expected in connection with the country's multi-billion rand arms deal.

Earlier on Wednesday Michael Woerfel, managing director of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (Eads), which has a stake in the arms deal, appeared briefly in the Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria on charges of corruption and forgery.

Woerfel and former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni, who was arrested last week, are to appear together again in court in January.

The charges against them relate to a massive discount Yengeni allegedly received when he bought a luxury Mercedes Benz 4X4 through Eads.

The State alleges Yengeni received the vehicle with the intention to "use his power or exercise his influence to influence the arms acquisition process" in favour of Eads' predecessor, Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG or DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG.

On Tuesday, the Scorpions - or Directorate of Special Operations - raided companies in Durban, Mauritius and France. The investigations involve contractors including African Defence Systems (ADS), Futuristic Business Solutions (FBS) and Thales International.

In Durban, the raids focused on offices and houses linked to Nkobi Holdings, whose chairperson, Schabir Shaik, is the brother of Shamin "Chippy" Shaik, head of the Defence Department's acquisitions and procurement programme.

'We followed up every damn little thing we had'

The Nkobi group of companies owns shares in Thales International, the company set to provide systems for the navy's four new corvettes. These companies jointly own ADS.

In France and Mauritius, offices and residences related to Thales International were searched.

On Wednesday, Sonn said the searches were conducted because they were thought to be "appropriate". "There were loose leads in matters related to the arms procurement deal, which we believe could tie up if we could find some other documentary or other evidence.

"(This) may cause us to do further investigation. It may cause us to drop the matter and close it, but then at least the South African society will know that we followed up every damn little thing we
had ... "

Asked whether the search could be extended, Sonn said that depended on what the latest finds uncovered, although he did not believe it would be necessary. "We are looking for specific leads, we are not scratching and scratching and scratching to see what falls out of the ceiling.

"We're there because we have things we are looking for, either in corroborating or founding conclusions we may make later."

He pointed out that not only individuals, but also companies could be charged.

According to Sonn, the Scorpions' investigations could be concluded by the end of October. That only pertained to its own investigations though, and not the over-all arms probe involving the National Director of Public Prosecutions, the Auditor-General and the Public Protector.

Woerfel volunteered to stand trial in SA

There had been good co-operation from foreign agencies so far, he said. "I believe there is a political will from countries that trade with us to assist us in addressing all questions of financial impropriety. It is important for them to be seen to co-operate with us. It destabilises them too."

Asked whether the investigators would make their evidence available to the German authorities - in terms of German law Woerfel could face corruption-related charges there as well - Sonn said that would depend on what evidence had been gathered.

But he said Woerfel would be tried in South Africa first. "He volunteered to stand trial here."

On Yengeni's accusations that the people who investigated him were all "lily-white", Sonn said he, as head of the Scorpions, complied with the Employment Equity Act. Of his employees 78% were black and 47% female.

"Mr Yengeni met some brothers (during the investigations) that he met before. I don't feel too white currently."

Sonn quipped: "I bought a Volvo, by the way. They don't give you any discounts."  

With acknowledgment to Sapa and News24.