Publication: The Star Issued: Date: 2006-01-13 Reporter: Jeremy Gordin Reporter: Reporter:

Scorpions Quizzed on Underwear Probe

 

Publication 

The Star
Date 2006-01-13

Reporter

Jeremy Gordin

Web Link

www.thestar.co.za

 

Why did the Scorpions rummage through the underwear of Bijou Francoise Moynot, wife of Pierre Jean Marie Robert Moynot, the managing director of Thint (Pty) Limited, the local arm of the giant French arms and electronics dealer?

This is precisely the question that Madame Moynot, as well as her husband and Thint the company, have asked in an application filed in the Pretoria High Court on Thursday against the national director of public prosecutions; the investigating director: Directorate of Special Operations (the Scorpions); and Johan du Plooy, a senior special investigator of the Scorpions.

The three applicants have requested that all the items seized by the Scorpions from the Thint offices and Moynot home in dawn raids on August 18 2005 be returned, and that the search warrants, issued by the Judge President of the Transvaal Provincial Division, Bernard Ngoepe, be declared null and void.

The Thint offices in New Muckleneuk, Pretoria, and the Moynot home in Waterkloof Heights, Pretoria, were raided in a search for evidence related to the scheduled July trial of former deputy president Jacob Zuma and Thint on corruption charges.

These were laid by the National Prosecuting Authority following the verdict last year in the trial of Durban businessman Schabir Shaik, who was found guilty of corruption and of having been in a "generally corrupt relationship" with Zuma.

Shaik was found guilty, among other counts, of having solicited a bribe from Thint for Zuma. (Shaik has been given leave by the Supreme Court of Appeal to challenge the verdict.)

In her affidavit describing the Scorpions raid, Mrs Moynot told the court that "a female officer even went through my underwear and commented on the high quality of the bras that were in my drawer and the number of shoes I had in my wardrobe".

"Needless to say, I felt extremely humiliated, more especially since there were male persons in my room when it was being searched and when my underwear was being commented upon."

Thint and the Moynots are applying for the search warrants to be set aside, claiming they were unlawfully and improperly obtained, and that the terms and authority were too wide.

The Scorpions are required to give notice that they intend to oppose the application by January 30, or to appear in court on February 7.

With acknowledgements to Jeremy Gordin and The Star.