Scorpions investigators have completed their searches at premises in Durban, Mauritius and France for documents which could assist in their investigations into South Africa's multi-billion rand arms procurement deal.

Spokesperson for the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Sipho Ngwema said that an audit of yesterday's raids would be released later today.

Raids were conducted on a number of companies and the homes of company directors who allegedly benefited from lucrative deal, Ngwema said.

The investigations involve contractors including African Defence Systems (ADS), Futuristic Business Solutions (FBS) and Thales International.

The raids come a week after African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni was arrested by the Scorpions elite unit on charges of corruption, fraud, forgery and statutory perjury in connection with the controversial arms deal of over R43-billion.

Raids were conducted on various business premises of Nkobi Holdings in Durban, the residence of Nkobi chief executive and chairperson Schabir Shaik, the offices of his attorney's Ditz Incorporated and the residence of Nkobi financial director Colin Isaacs.

The Nkobi group of companies own shares in Thales International, the company that will be providing systems for the navy's four new corvettes.

These companies jointly own ADS, which is at the centre of the arms deal.

Schabir Shaik is a director of both ADS and its French parent, Thales International, and he was financial adviser to Deputy President Jacob Zuma when Zuma was in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature.

He is also the brother of Shamin "Chippy" Shaik, who heads the national defence department's acquisitions and procurement division.  

With acknowledgment to Sapa and iafrica.com.