Disgraced African National Congress MP Tony Yengeni, along with 30 prominent officials and businessmen, could still face charges as German investigators take a closer look at the bribery scandal that lies at the heart of the multi-billion-rand arms deal.

German investigators have confirmed to The Star they are pursuing the list of those who received handsome discounts on a range of DaimlerChrysler cars, allegedly as kickbacks.

Two probes are under way, German investigator Andreas Bruns said. "One is about ThyssenKrupp and Chippy Shaik (former chief of acquisitions at the Department of Defence) in Dusseldorf. Then there's an investigation in Munich, which concerns the list of 31 cars." 

Auditor-General Terence Nombembe, Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana and National Prosecuting Authority chief Vusi Pikoli - the Joint Investigation Team - were to meet on Thursday to look at allegations surrounding Shaik.

This follows a request by the Democratic Alliance's Eddie Trent after revelations by the German magazine Der Spiegel last month.

The magazine detailed a year-long investigation by authorities in Germany into the R450-million defence contract with German Frigate Consortium-Thomson, including ThyssenKrupp, which won a bid to supply South Africa with four corvettes back in 1999.

German investigators said they were preparing an application for investigative assistance from the South African authorities.

At the heart of the German allegations are a series of internal memos between employees of ThyssenKrupp and Shaik, which point to Shaik soliciting a $3-million (R23-million) bribe.

Retired Judge Willem Heath, who carried out one of the initial probes into the arms deal, said: "The Germans have done a lot of research already and are adamant not only to investigate but also to prosecute anybody in Germany who had anything to do with the arms deal."

He and Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille travelled to England and Germany this month to discuss investigations into various strands of the deal.

Heath said the Germans told him they intended to vigorously pursue the trail of the discounted vehicles without fear of status.

"Once there are convictions abroad it will imply that South Africans are also guilty of corruption. Logically speaking, the prosecuting authority will have to wake up and start investigating or it will have egg on its face."

The multi-billion-rand arms deal has led to investigations in Britain, Germany and Sweden.

Last June, the British Serious Fraud Office filed for legal help from South Africa to probe allegations of kickbacks of up to R1-billion paid by BAE Systems to secure the R30-billion contract for jet fighters and trainers.

Sweden's anti-corruption unit is also probing Saab, makers of Gripen planes, said to have paid heavily to do business with South Africa.

This article was originally published on page 1 of The Star on March 14, 2007

With acknowledgement to Beauregard Tromp and Independent Online.