Fraud and corruption charges against German businessman Michael Woerfel were withdrawn in the Pretoria Commercial Crimes court in Pretoria on Wednesday.

The charges were brought against him for allegedly arranging a discount on a luxury 4x4 Mercedes Benz for former African National Congress Chief Whip Tony Yengeni.

At the time, Woerfel was the head of Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG's Pretoria representative office.

Daimler-Benz Aerospace was the manufacturer of the AT2000 -- which was then being considered with two other light fighter aircraft as part of South Africa's arms acquisition process.

Yengeni was to be sentenced later on Wednesday after he was found guilty of fraud last month in terms of a plea agreement with the state.

With acknowledgements to Sapa.