Memory Grace Pieterse nvestigators at the Arms Commission of Inquiry, probing the controversial R70 billion arms deal, are awaiting crucial evidence from German law enforcement agencies that could shed light on bribes that several high profile ANC politicians allegedly received. Separately, the probe will also investigate allegations that former president Thabo Mbeki received a 40 million Deutsche Mark payment into his personal bank account after confidential meetings with British arms manufacturer, BAE Systems. Mbeki’s spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga said rather than speculate on the scope of the investigation, they would wait for the commission to specify what it could be focusing on in its probe. Ratshitanga said he was not aware of the commission contacting Mbeki to discuss his relationship with BAE Systems. Anne Katharina Zimmermann, spokeswoman for Germany’s Federal Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, could not establish the status of the request for information from the South African government. But The Sunday Independent has been reliably informed that the commission began negotiations to obtain the evidence from German authorities in July last year. Negotiations have been under way since. Commission spokesman William Baloyi said he could not respond to media queries within the time frame. The information relates to a German investigation into arms manufacturer Thyssen Rheinstahl Technik GMBH and several other companies that formed the German Frigate Consortium in 1994, which won the tender to build and deliver four corvettes for the South African navy at a cost of R1.4bn. Thyssen Rheinstahl is alleged to have concluded a commission agreement with Mallar Inc, a company registered in Liberia and owned by Greek tycoon Anthony Georgiadis, where it allegedly paid his company $22 million to be given to South African officials and members of cabinet. The consortium then allegedly made fraudulent VAT claims on the bribe payment. ANC Chief Whip Tony Yengeni, who was convicted of fraud in 2003, is allegedly central to the deal as Georgiadis allegedly booked a flight for Yengeni in 1996 so that Yengeni could participate in meetings with him and members of the German Frigate Consortium. The Sunday Independent was unable to get hold of Georgiadis at the time of going to print. But in 1997 German authorities investigated the nine key figures within the consortium for contravening the International Corruption Act and attempted tax evasion. Rals Hellensbruck, spokesman for the Dusseldorf Office of Public Prosecution, said this week the matter was finalised in 2007. At least two of the individuals were given six-month sentences for tax fraud, he said. A spokesperson for Thyssen-Krupp Marine Systems said its respect for the processes of the Seriti Commission of Inquiry made it clear that “we are unable to comment on allegations raised by anonymous sources via the media”. Aside from the German deal, the commission has also outlined several deals that underpinned the British contract. BAE Systems also allegedly took former Numsa official Moses Mayekiso to the UK and Sweden and made a R40m donation to the union’s education fund, requiring R2.8m. It is alleged that Mayekiso pocketed the rest. But Mayekiso, now a Cope MPL, distanced himself from the claims, saying he was available to testify before the commission. “Not even a single cent went into the school, it never materialised,” said Mayekiso, adding that he was surprised the commission was not consulting him. Other alleged payments made by BAE, which will be probed include: - A donation to Orange Farm MK Veterans. - A bursary to the daughter of a former prominent ANC minister. - A donation of R500 000 to the Airborne Trust, of which late defence minister Joe Modise was a patron. Modise was allegedly paid $10m to initiate the submarine contract and Dilisa Mji, who was on the Airborne Trust and Modise’s physician and served on the BAE Systems SA board, was allegedly promised R250 000 if the BAE bid was successful. BAE Systems head of media Leonie Foster said the company was invited to make a submission to the Seriti Commission of Inquiry but had already made one voluntarily. On whether BAE Systems paid any bribes, Foster said BAE Systems announced in February 2010 the agreement of a global settlement with the UK’s Serious Fraud Office and the Justice Department following long investigations by those authorities relating to a number of countries including South Africa. “Neither settlement involved charges of bribery or corruption relating to South Africa or any other country,” Foster said. Aside from allegations of corruption, the commission will also look at acquisition policies and processes in the Department of Defence and Armscor. - Sunday Independent [email protected] [email protected]
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 19:19:23 +0000
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