[ 2011-07-31 ]

S.Africa re-opens probe of arms bribes
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - South African police have
re-opened their investigation into a controversial
arms deal after Swedish defence group Saab
admitted bribes had been paid to clinch a
contract, a report said on Sunday.

Officials will approach authorities in Sweden and
Britain to find out what their investigations have
uncovered about allegations of corruption in the
1999 deal for 26 JAS Gripen fighter jets, South
Africa's Sunday Times reported.

Saab last month admitted that 24 million rand
($3.6 million, 2.5 million euros) in bribes had
been paid to secure the deal, but blamed its
former British partner BAE Systems for making the
payoffs.

The Sunday Times said the head of South Africa's
elite investigative squad, the Hawks, had sent a
letter to parliament's Standing Committee on
Public Accounts indicating the investigation will
be re-opened, 10 months after the Hawks were
sharply criticised for dropping the politically
sensitive probe.

"I have already instructed two officials... to
approach the relevant authorities in both Sweden
(National Anti-Corruption Unit) and the UK
(Serious Fraud Office)," Hawks chief Anwar Dramat
reportedly wrote.

"Subject to approval by these authorities, (we)
will assess the available information with a view
to determine whether there is information which
points to crime(s) in South Africa."

The chair of the parliamentary committee, Themba
Godi, said re-opening the investigation was a "a
brave and correct decision".

"Unless justice is being done and is seen as being
done on this matter, it's going to continue to
cast a cold shadow over the political landscape of
the country," Godi told the Sunday Times.

Saab's admission came after Sweden's TV4
television channel said it had evidence the
defence group had promised to pay Fana Hlongwane,
then advisor to the South African defence
minister, millions of euros in bonuses if Pretoria
did not back out of the Gripen deal.

Saab said bribes had been paid in the form of
bonuses and salaries between 2003 and 2005 by its
South African subsidiary Sanip, which was then
controlled by BAE Systems.

Source - AFP

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