Publication: Daily News Issued: Date: 2006-07-05 Reporter: Boyd Webb

New Arms Deal Corruption Allegation: Pikoli 'Satisfied'

 

Publication 

Daily News

Date

2006-07-05

Reporter

 Boyd Webb

Web Link

www.dailynews.co.za

 

National Prosecuting Authority boss Vusi Pikoli says he is satisfied his predecessor Bulelani Ngcuka did his job *1 in relation to the arms deal and there are no outstanding criminal prosecutions other than those already before the courts.

This follows fresh allegations of corruption in the arms deal, this time involving the sale of corvettes to South Africa by a German consortium.

Noting that the NPA had been tasked with investigating allegations of corruption in the past, he said he felt it had been dealt with sufficiently by his predecessor.

"There is no reason to question what decisions have been taken," he said.

If new information was received, then this would be assessed, but as things now stood he was "satisfied", Pikoli said.

But yesterday Democratic Alliance MP Eddie Trent urged Pikoli to contact the German prosecuting authority to establish the exact nature of the new allegations.

German media reported at the weekend that Dusseldorf prosecutors were investigating whether DM30 million had been paid in alleged bribes to South African politicians to secure the corvette deal.

Trent said Pikoli should "undertake to review the role of the South African government in the awarding of this particular contract".

He also raised questions about former head of acquisitions Chippy Shaik. Chippy's brother Mo said on behalf of his family yesterday the latest allegations had nothing to do with them.

Mo, a former South African Consul in Hamburg, said the allegations had nothing to do with his family and all questions should be referred to the government.

"Chippy no longer even works for the government and in any event still falls under the official secrecy act," he said.

Also yesterday, Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin brushed off allegations that top politicians pocketed bribes from Thyssen, one of the companies in the consortium as alleged in the German media.

Questioned at a media briefing, Erwin said since it was a German investigation, it would be wiser to wait for formal notification about what exactly was being placed under the spotlight.

He said that South Africa would co-operate with the investigation if asked by the Germans.

With acknowledgements to Boyd Webb and Daily News.


*1       Did his whole job, half his job, quarter his job?

Part of the job seems that the government, the main men and the prime contracts were not touched by the investigation.

And/or was part of the job changing the JIT Report to achieve this end.