Accused says he approached Pakistani military attache to secure job

A South African admitted in court on Wednesday that he approached the Pakistan government with plans to sell weapons because it is the country that spends the most money on the purchase and manufacture of weapons.

Warren Lloyd Grobbelaar (37) also testified that he earned about $560 000 (approximately R5,6 million) in a contract with the Pakistani government.

Grobbelaar has been charged for the theft of weapons plans from one of the country's largest warhead manufacturers, after which he resigned and started manufacturing missiles for Pakistan. He started his bail application on Wednesday.

He has been detained in Pretoria's C-Max prison since he was arrested in April in Sandton after two years abroad.

Grobbelaar testified yesterday that he and his wife initially left the country to start a family because it is "unsafe" to raise children in South Africa. The couple have no children.

He said he approached Pakistan's high commission in England and did presentations to their military attach?. Thereafter he was requested by a Pakistani major to travel to the country to make his presentation to POF, a weapons manufacturer.

"Although POF did not employ me, they referred me to another firm known as Aero, where a contract was signed with me," Grobbelaar testified.

He said a former colleague, now the main state witness, was flown to England with a job offer. "In England I gave him certain options and he left for Pakistan after the Pakistan military attach? in England issued a visa for him within hours. The colleague was paid an amount of $35 000 and at the completion of his contract another $5 000."

Grobbelaar said that it would no longer be safe for him to return to Pakistan. He lived there for short periods.

He admitted that he also made presentations to the Chilean embassy in England but nothing materialised.

Grobbelaar refused to answer questions about a laptop computer on which the alleged stolen plans were possibly smuggled out of the country, as well as questions about plans from Fuchs (part of the Reunert Group), which he allegedly used to manufacture parts for warheads.

The bail application will continue on June 2.

The asset forfeiture unit has also seized Grobbelaar's assets, including two BMWs, a container that was imported from New Zealand and a property with a value of about R1,3 million. About R1,5 million in a bank account has also been frozen.

With acknowledgements to Sarie van Niekerk and The Natal Witness.