Trial Told of Zuma's Malaysian Trip with Shaik [Sapa, 2004-10-22]

Publication: Sapa Issued: Durban Date: 2004-10-22 Reporter: Sapa Reporter: Wendy Jasson da Costa Reporter: Ben Maclennan

Trial Told of Zuma's Malaysian Trip with Shaik

Publication	Sapa COURT-SHAIK
Issued	Durban
Date	2004-10-22
Reporter	Wendy Jasson da Costa, Ben Maclennan, Sapa

The Durban High Court heard on Friday that Deputy President Jacob Zuma accompanied Nkobi group director Schabir Shaik on a visit to Malaysia in 1995.

This was according to a report by forensics expert Johan van der Walt from the KPMG accounting and auditing firm.

Van der Walt, who was commissioned in 2003 as part of the fraud and corruption investigation into Shaik, said that the Nkobi group positioned itself in the arms industry from at least 1995.

This happened when Shaik and "various individuals" visited Malaysia with their itinerary including plans to meet with the Malaysian defence minister.

He said the documentation indicated that Zuma accompanied Shaik on a visit to Malaysia during July/August 1995.

He said Shaik had also indicated to the Malaysian defence ministry in August 1995 that his Nkobi group had purchased majority shares in South African companies involved in defence-related technologies, but Van der Walt said this was not true as Nkobi was still in its "embryonic stage".

Earlier the name of former police commissioner George Fivaz came up in the court.

According to Van der Walt Shaik wrote a letter to Jean-Marc Pizano aeronautical service provider Advanced Technologies and Engineering (ATE) in October 1995.

He said that according to the letter Shaik believed he could influence tender procedures through Fivaz regarding Kobipol, a Nkobi project.

From a fax dated November 8, 1995, it was apparent that the Kobipol project involved the handling of police technology equipment.

Shaik also in a letter written on August 8, 1995, wrote to the SA High Commissioner in Malaysia to thank a Miss Mogale for her assistance during the trip with Zuma.

He told her that Nkobi had major defence interests in South Africa and that the Malaysians were keen to obtain their capabilities for their defences.

Shaik is alleged to have organised a R500 000 per annum bribe for Zuma in exchange for protection during probes into arms deal irregularities.

With acknowledgement to Wendy Jasson da Costa, Ben Maclennan and Sapa.