JOHANNESBURG – The debate over the controversial arms deal which landed Shabir Shaik behind bars became public and heated last night.

Andrew Feinstein, author of the book After The Party, was tackled by the convicted fraudster’s brother Mo Shaik on etv’s 3rd Degree.

Feinstein was an ANC MP for more than seven years before resigning in protest over the party’s handling of the multibillion-rand arms deal – a deal which continues to be tainted by allegations of high-level corruption.

In his book, Feinstein said, he quoted “reliable sources” in detailing alleged bribery, mostly to officials in his former party, of up to $200 million. This is currently being investigated internationally.

A visibly angered Mo Shaik accused Feinstein of criminally propagating falsehoods. He also charged that Feinstein had held back information that could have helped his brother’s legal battle.

To this Feinstein reacted that the information had been available to him only since March.

At the centre of the debate were minutes of a meeting involving Shabir and an alleged R3-million bribe paid into the bank account of another brother, Chippy.

Feinstein said it was a “tragedy” that his “reliable sources” could not be made public until, as usually was the case with controversial arms deals, all the details and the truth had come out.

With acknowledgement to The Citizen.