Accountant Ian Pierce, charged with failing to co-operate with a probe into corruption in the government's multi-billion rand arms deal, walked from Pretoria's Commercial Crimes Court a free man yesterday.

Magistrate David Makhoba dismissed all four counts against Pierce at the close of the state's case, saying there was not sufficient evidence to support the charges.

The first charge against Pierce related to him allegedly ignoring a summons to appear before arms deal investigators on July 10 last year, and the second for failing on the same date to provide books and documents of Futuristic Business Solutions (FBS) - of which he is a director.

He was also charged with giving false evidence to investigators on December 11, by allegedly stating that documents they were looking for were with the company's auditors, when he knew they were not.

A fourth charge related to him failing to produce cash books, ledgers and other FBS financial documents on the same date.

David Feldman, for Pierce, argued this week that his client never received the summons, and had tried his best to comply with the request for documents.

He asked the court for a discharge, saying there was no case for his client to answer.

Makhoba granted Feldman's request.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Cape Times.