Johannesburg - Suspended arms acquisition chief Shamin Shaik was found guilty by the Department of Defence of illegally disclosing confidential information contained in the auditor-general's draft report on the controversial arms deal late last year.

Sunday Independent reported that the department's Sam Mkhwanazi said the inquiry into Shaik's alleged misconduct would reconvene next week to decide on the sentence.

He would not divulge details of the findings against Shaik, saying that they related to "the illegal disclosure of the information."

Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota banned Shaik from setting his foot in any military installation or headquarters of the department of defence.

An auditor-general's draft report, which was critical of Shaik's involvement in the arms deal was handed to Lekota late last year.

Lekota then instructed Joy Ratebe, his legal advisor to give the report to Shaik for comment. Shaik passed the report to his lawyers who took up the issue with Shauket Fakie, the auditor-general.

Shaik was then charged with misconduct for disclosing details of the report to his lawyers.

With acknowledgement to News24.