DA welcomes arms deal investigation by the Hawks

The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the fact that General Anwa Dramat, Head of the Directorate of for Priority Crime Investigation ("Hawks"), has launched a preliminary investigation into new information on the arms deal which emerged in Sweden (see Sunday Times report).

The Chief Executive Officer of Saab, Mr Hakan Buskhe, found that BAE Systems effectively laundered R24 million, through a company called Sanip (Pty) Ltd, to a "South African Consultant", who was reportedly Fana Hlongwane, adviser to former Minister of Defence Joe Modise.

General Anwa Dramat, informed Themba Godi, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, in a letter dated 27 July 2011, that based on the new information inter alia:

• two officials have been instructed to approach both the National Anti Corruption Unit in Sweden and the Serious Fraud Office in the United Kingdom to assess the available information with a view to determining whether there is information that points to crimes in South Africa; and
• that, although it was not possible to commit to timeframes, the preliminary investigation will be completed in the shortest time possible.

In my view, the Hawks have effectively launched a preliminary investigation into the new information that has emerged in Sweden.

This is a significant new development and gives some hope that a full-blown investigation may be launched into the alleged role played in arms deal corruption by Fana Hlongwane and his web of companies including Hlongwane Consulting (Pty) Ltd.

However, it is important to maintain perspective. The Hawks have not reopened the investigation into the arms deal, as a whole. The Hawks have however launched a preliminary investigation focusing on the new information which emerged in Sweden.

The success of the preliminary investigation will depend on close cooperation between the Hawks and Sweden's National Anti Corruption Unit as well as the Serious Fraud Office in the United Kingdom.

We are therefore going to have to monitor the progress of the preliminary investigation and ensure that there is no interference in the cooperation between the Hawks and law enforcement authorities in Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, July 31 2011

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