British investigators are looking into a multimillion pound de-fence contract between Britain's BAE Systems and South Africa in an arms case that has long been marred by scandal.

David Jones, chief press officer for Britain's Serious Fraud Office, said yesterday that the in-vestigation was "a few years old" and that there had been communication with local officials.

SA National Prosecuting Au-thority spokeswoman Lucinda Moonieya would not confirm or deny whether its British equivalent had submitted a request for assistance.

Lisa Hillary-Tee, a BAE Systems spokeswoman, said the firm "continues to co-operate fully with the British investigation".

The arms company won a contract in 1999 to supply South Africa with military aircraft, including 24 Hawk fighter trainers, at allegedly double the price of a rival Italian bidder.

Scandal has surrounded the deal from the outset.

President Thabo Mbeki fired Jacob Zuma in June 2005 after Zuma's former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was convicted of fraud and bribery in the arms case. 

With acknowledgements to the Sapa and Cape Argus.