October 9 2001: The Scorpions obtain a court order and mutual legal assistance from the French government to carry out simultaneous raids on Schabir Shaik's home, Nkobi Holdings in South Africa and the Thomson CSF (since renamed Thales) offices in France and Mauritius on October 9 2001.

November 16 2001: Shaik is arrested for allegedly being in possession of classified Cabinet minutes found during the raids.

June 12 2002: Shaik is issued with a Section 28 subpoena to answer questions over an alleged arms deal bribe for Deputy President Jacob Zuma.

June 27 2003: Shaik challenges the subpoena as being unconstitutional in the Durban High Court.

July 18 2003: Shaik loses his court bid to evade being questioned by the Scorpions, but says he would appeal the ruling.

August 25 2003: Shaik, by arrangement, is arrested and appears in the Durban Regional Court.

With acknowledgement to the Sunday Times.