Controversial bidder in South Africa's multi_billion rand arms deal Schabir Shaik on Monday accused Justice Minister Penuell Maduna of using the Scorpions to pursue "other agendas" for ordering a probe which led to his arrest late last year.

Shaik was arrested in November last year and charged with theft of Cabinet documents, including minutes containing information on the controversial arms deal.

Correspondence between the Public Enterprises and Defence departments were also found in his possession. He briefly appeared in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Monday and the case was postponed to May 27 for trial.

Shaik told to reporters outside the court that the truth "must be revealed", no matter how hard it might be. "There certainly are plots within plots... certain people,  certain ministers in government are disgruntled. Not government itself, because a few ministers do not make up the government.
 
"The Scorpions fall under the Minister of Justice. That is a known fact. He is using the Scorpions for other agendas," he said. Shaik's arrest last November came a month after the Scorpions raided his home and the business premises of his black empowerment company Nkobi Holdings as part of its investigation into irregularities in the multi_billion rand arms deal.

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

Shaik, who is the chairman of Nkobi Holdings, is also the brother of suspended Defence Department arms acquisition chief Shamin Shaik.

A departmental disciplinary hearing found Shamin guilty of illegally disclosing confidential information contained in the Auditor-General's draft report on the controversial arms deal late last year.

With acknowledgements to SAPA and Business Day.