The Sunday Times last week published a list of 35 questions which the Scorpions want Deputy President Jacob Zuma to answer.

A storm of controversy erupted over who leaked the questions. Zuma's office blamed the Scorpions. But the Scorpions hit back, claiming the questions were leaked by Zuma's camp as a diversionary tactic.

Central to the drama is Durban businessman Schabir Shaik and his relationship with Zuma and former Transport Minister Mac Maharaj.

Today, we look back at a week of drama and mud-slinging over allegations that Zuma asked for a bribe from a French company that benefited from the arms deal.

SUNDAY:

# The Sunday Times publishes the list of 35 questions.

# Zuma reacts with a statement saying: "I find it totally unacceptable and despicable that questions that they [the Scorpions] sent to me have appeared in a Sunday newspaper . . . Despite my silence . . . there have been constant leaks of information to the media which was clearly designed to cast aspersions on my integrity."

# The Scorpions remain silent.

MONDAY:

# Scorpions spokesman Sipho Ngwema tells SAfm and Radio 702 that his organisation is not behind the leak. He describes the leak as a "poor piece of spindoctoring that has backfired".

# Later, on SAfm, Justice Minister Penuell Maduna says he is convinced the Scorpions were not behind the leak.

# Under pressure to reveal who gave the newspaper the 35 questions, Sunday Times editor Mathatha Tsedu says: "The Sunday Times will neither confirm nor deny any list of names that may be produced by anyone as possible sources of the information. Indeed, we are baffled by the witch-hunt for the source as no-one has denied the veracity of the information we published."

# Deloitte & Touche finalises an investigation into Maharaj and hands the findings to FirstRand. Maharaj is a director of the group but is on an extended leave of absence.

TUESDAY:

# President Thabo Mbeki calls for the probe against Zuma to be wrapped up quickly, and hints that the Scorpions and police may be merged.

# Schabir Shaik is grilled by the Scorpions for over six hours about money and gifts he gave to Maharaj and his wife, Zarina.

# Ngwema says the session "went well".

# Zuma's spokesman, Lakela Kaunda, says: "We are not aware of any investigation about the deputy president defrauding Parliament. His members' register is up to date. If there was a problem, Parliament would have let us know." Zuma declared a few small gifts, but wrote "not applicable" in respect of shares, directorships and partnerships.

WEDNESDAY:

# FirstRand's board meet to discuss Maharaj's future after getting a report from Deloitte & Touche.

# Former Defence Acquisition Chief Shamin "Chippy" Shaik unapologetically admits in an interview with Business Day that he gave his brother, Schabir Shaik, government documents. He claims it was an "accepted practice" in the "old days" to give contracts to pals and relatives.

# Zuma calls the bribe allegations "utterly baseless".

# Maduna says Zuma would answer Scorpions questions "very, very soon".

THURSDAY:

# Zuma says he would answer Scorpions' questions at his "earliest convenience".

# Speaker of Parliament, Frene Ginwala, says there were no complaints lodged against Zuma with the Ethics Committee over non-disclosure of gifts.

# FirstRand says it would give Maharaj seven days to respond to the findings of the Deloitte investigation.

FRIDAY:

# Maharaj lambasts the Scorpions over another alleged "leak" after The Star newspaper tells him his wife was about to be arrested on tax evasion charges.

NEXT WEEK

# Maharaj responds to the FirstRand investigation. The board will then decide his fate.

With acknowledgements to Andre Jurgens, Mzilikazi Wa Afrika, Jessica Bezuidenhout and the Sunday Times.