Pretoria - A senior finance department official currently working at the World Bank in Washington, was this week questioned 'amid great secrecy' by forensic investigators via satellite in connection with the R43 billion arms deal.

Roland White was in charge of financial negotiations connected to concluding arms deals, international financial institutions payment requirements and compiling repayment requirements of arms loans.

There is uncertainty why White was questioned in this way, when he had earlier indicated his willingness to testify at the public hearing. He was not called as a witness.

Special team sent to help

For unknown reasons it was decided to question him via satellite - an undertaking which costs thousands of rands. A special team, consisting of a state prosecutor and an advocate armed with all the necessary documents travelled to Washington to help him during the questioning.

It is also unclear why auditor-general Shaket Fakie, who is currently in Washington on official business, could not conduct the questioning and take a statement from White.

Questions surrounding the Finance Department's share in the negotiations - particularly those related to the final financial implications of the value of packages in view of the falling rand - were not brought up during the first part of the public hearing.

None of the three investigating agencies - the national prosecuting authority, the former director-general's office or the public prosecutor - were prepared to comment on the issue.

Sipho Ngwema a spokesperson for the Scorpions, who are assisting with the questioning, said he could neither confirm nor deny the questioning. "We are not allowed to comment on any questioning being conducted by our team. The only exception was when we confirmed that we were questioning ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni and Patricia de Lille of the PAC”.

Questioning is 'discreet'

He added: “That had been because the national prosecuting authority had reportedly been accused of protecting Yengeni and secondly since De Lille had chosen to make her testimony public."

Neither Fakie nor White could on Wednesday be contacted in Washington.

White is currently employed in the Africa bureau of the World Bank. He was transferred to the Bank at the end of last year as a result of his success with the arms negotiation process.

He had been working in Nigeria for the past two months for the Bank when he was approached for the questioning session. It is unclear why he was not summonsed to come to South Africa.

Questioning reportedly is "discreet" and is kept secret from most other members of the investigating team, Beeld was told.

With acknowledgement to Erika Gibson and Beeld.