The investigation into corruption in the multi-billion rand arms deal is to be boosted next week when the Scorpions are scheduled to grill Durban businessman Schabir Shaik, who has thus far avoided questions that the Scorpions would like to have answered.

These include allegations that Deputy President Jacob Zuma solicited a bribe of R500 000 a year to protect one of the companies involved in the arms deal during the multi-agency arms deal probe.

Durban High Court judge Ron McLaren ruled last week that Shaik, a Durban businessman facing charges related to the theft of confidential state documents, must respond to the Scorpions summons and answer the questions.

National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulenlani Ngcuka told the Cape Times Schaik would be interviewed by the Scorpions on Tuesday.

The Scorpions want Schaik to provide information on a range of topics involving the arms deal, including allegations that Zuma asked for a bribe of R500 000 a year from Thales, one of the companies involved in the arms deal, in return for protecting the company in the arms deal investigation.

Shaik was allegedly present at a meeting at which Zuma allegedly solicited the protection bribe from Thales, formerly known as Thompson CSF.

Thales and its South African subsidiary African Defence Systems (ADS) were part of the group that won contracts in the arms deal.

Shaik is a shareholder of Thales, a director of ADS and a director of Nkobi Holdings.

The Scorpions have subpoenaed Shaik to answer questions about his knowledge of links, since 1996, between himself, the Nkobi group of companies or related entities, the Thomson-CSF/Thales group of companies or any related entities, African Defence Systems and Zuma.

In terms of the summons, Shaik is to be questioned about "negotiations, requests, correspondence, meetings or other arrangements concerning the payment of money or the granting of other benefits by any of the persons or entities mentioned above to any of the other persons or entities mentioned above".

The state wants to question Shaik about several meetings and documents, including a meeting held at Nkobi's offices with Thompson CSF on November 18, 1998.

The sale of 10% of Thomson's share in African Defence Systems to Nkobi was discussed at this meeting, which was also allegedly attended by Shaik, Allan Thétard, Jean-Paul Perrier, Anand Moodley and Zuma.

The Scorpions also want information on the circumstances surrounding the transaction in which Nkobi entered into a service provider agreement with Thales in Mauritius for which Nkobi charged Thales an annual fee of R500 000.

Shaik could not be reached for comment.

With acknowledgements to Andre Koopman and the Cape Times.