Johannesburg : The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) would not say yesterday whether Shamin "Chippy" Shaik was being sought in connection with investigations into the arms deal.

"We've not made any public pronouncements on it," said NPA spokesman Panyaza Lesufi. "It's not an issue for the NPA at the moment."

Shaik was the head of procurement at the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) and is the brother of convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik. German authorities are investigating allegations that Chippy Shaik was paid a $3 million bribe by German arms manufacturer ThyssenKrupp to secure contracts with the SANDF.

The Sunday Times reported that Shaik could not be found and was rumoured to be trying to flee to Australia, although his family denied this. The newspaper reported that he holds several passports.

"The Democratic Alliance will this week submit parliamentary questions to the Department of Home Affairs to establish how many passports they have issued to Chippy Shaik," said DA MP Eddie Trent.

"If these rumours are indeed true and Mr Shaik has fled the country, it raises even more questions about his alleged involvement in the arms deal and makes it all the more necessary that those authorities investigating this matter do so with the greatest urgency."

On Thursday, NPA head Vusi Pikoli, Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana and Auditor-General Terence Nombembe met to discuss the possibility of a joint investigation into the new allegations of arms deal corruption. 

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Cape Times.