Publication: Cape Argus Issued: Date: 2007-02-06 Reporter: Linda Daniels

Public Protector Weighs Arms Bribery Probe

 

Publication 

Cape Argus
Date

2007-02-06

Reporter

 Linda Daniels

Web Link

www.capeargus.co.za

 

The Public Protector's office, which was once part of a multi-agency investigation into the arms deal which found no improper conduct on the part of the government as a whole, says it will consider a DA request to investigate the latest bribery allegations.

German news magazine Der Spiegel reported at the weekend that former chief of acquisitions Chippy Shaik allegedly received a $3m bribe from arms manufacturer Thyssen Krupp via a non-existent mailbox company, Merian Ltd in London, in April 2000.

Until February 1999, bribery was not illegal in Germany and firms could write them off as "useful expenditure".

Public Protector spokesman Charles Phahlane yesterday confirmed that the office had received a DA request from MP Eddie Trent to investigate the bribery allegation and was studying its merits.

The office was among the agencies in the Joint Investigating Team into the arms deal and released a report in November 2001 which the cabinet trumpeted as proving there was no corruption in the main contracts. But the report fingered Chippy Shaik for an alleged conflict of interest relating to his brother Schabir's involvement in one of the arms companies. An internal inquiry found he had also disclosed confidential information relating to a draft report.

Chippy Shaik was suspended on full pay *1 and resigned in March 2002.

With acknowledgement to Linda Daniels and Cape Argus.


*1       Chippy Shaik was suspended on full pay during the internal investigation and tribunal held in late December 2001 under the chairmanship of Zam Titus, director-general of the Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs.

During the tribunal, Chippy Shaik was represented by his attorney brother Yunis Shaik, contrary to the regulations and norms concerning internal labour tribunals.

In mid-January 2002 the tribunal found him guilty of misconduct and he received a final warning. Shaik appealed against the finding and the appeal was turned down. Shaik then returned to work in early February 2002 without any restrictions, only to later leave his post at the end of April 2000 after notifying the DoD at the end of March 2002 of his intention to resign.

So he had three full months to sort out all his affairs and cover his tracks.

The DoD, SANDF and Armscor gave him a grand farewell party before he left where various people sang his praises.

A glowing article about the Chief of Acquisitions was also published in Armscor's Salvo magazine.