The Scorpions declined to comment on Friday on a Mail and Guardian report that the elite unit has subpoenaed and obtained Deputy President Jacob Zuma's personal banking records.

An investigating team is probing allegations that Zuma tried to solicit a bribe from a French defence contractor linked to South Africa's multi-billion rand arms deal.

The deputy president has vehemently denied that he requested a payment of R500 000 from Thales Southern Africa.

Scorpions spokesman Sipho Ngwema said the unit would not comment on the report.

The newspaper also said South African authorities had issued a warrant for the arrest of the contractor, Alain Thetard.

He is the former head of Thales' Southern Africa division, who allegedly met secretly with Zuma and his financial adviser Schabir Schaik, to confirm the deputy president's alleged demand for payment.

The request was apparently partly to have been in return for "protection" during the investigation into the arms deal.

Zuma's office could not be immediately reached for comment.

With acknowledgement to Sapa.