Publication: Cape Argus Issued: Date: 2007-04-09 Reporter: Sapa

Lack of Progress in Arms Deal Probe Looks Bad - DA

 

Publication 

Cape Argus
Date

2007-04-09

Reporter

Sapa

Web Link

www.capeargus.co.za

 

Johannesburg: Failure to disclose information on investigations into allegations of bribery against Shamin "Chippy" Shaik by the Public Protector reflected badly on the country's reputation, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said yesterday.

"This lack of transparency and progress *1 in this regard does not reflect well and can only harm our reputation abroad," said the opposition party's arms deal spokesman, Eddie Trent.

The DA asked Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana for a full investigation into the Shaik issue in February.

Since then, Mushwana's office, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and Auditor-General Terence Nombembe met to discuss the possibility of a joint investigation into the new allegations of corruption around the multibillion rand arms deal.

Mushwana's office said the allegations would not be jointly investigated by the three state agencies but would be dealt with separately in terms of each institution's mandate.

The DA then requested a comprehensive update on the status of the investigations.

"It is in the public interest that the investigation process be transparent and swift and that the public be kept informed of the investigation's progress," Trent said. "I made this request in a letter to the Public Protector's office last week."

Mushwana's spokesman, Charles Phahlane, said he was not aware of the letter.

"If they did send it, I'll find it and will respond to them."

He said a report regarding a decision to investigate would only be released towards the end of this month.

Shaik, brother of convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik, was allegedly paid a $3 million bribe by an arms deal-bidding company, Germany's Der Spiegel magazine recently reported.

According to the magazine, documents of ThyssenKrupp, a German company that supplied the South African Navy with four frigates, revealed that Shaik requested the bribe in 1998.

The firm apparently deposited the money in the account of a non-existent company in London in 2000. Shaik was head of procurement at the defence department at the time.

The authorities are under pressure from law enforcement agencies in Sweden, Germany and Britain to assist with the investigation into allegations that several South Africans were paid to secure deals during the arms deal bidding.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Cape Argus.


*1       Wherever Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki or their interlocuters are involved, official investigations go south, inter alia :