Executives at Germany's main warship-building company, which built the four frigates and three submarines involved in South Africa's controversial multi-billion-rand arms deal, are being investigated over claims that they offered kickbacks in Angola for an order, the weekly magazine Der Spiegel reported last week.

No ship order was actually placed, but a corruption inquiry was under way against ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) staff involved in the tender, Spiegel said, adding that police searched TKMS offices in December.

Spiegel said the executives were suspected of offering military officers or politicians a payoff funded from its earnings if the German company obtained the order. Since 1998 Germany has banned attempts to corrupt foreign officials. - Sapa-dpa

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Cape Argus.