Arms deal investigation shutdown: Scopa must summon Hawks and NPA

The Democratic Alliance (DA) believes that the decision by General Anwar Dramat, Head of the Directorate Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), to shut down the arms deal investigation is part of the biggest cover-up of corruption in the history of South Africa (see here).

Last week the remaining two active legs of the investigation into the arms deal - which included investigations into the German Frigate Consortium (GFC) and British Aerospace (BAE) - were reportedly closed.

The Hawks claimed that it was not in the public interest to continue the investigation into the arms deal - despite allegations that up to R1billion had been shelled out in "commissions".

Chippy Shaik is alleged to have received US$3 million in commissions as a result of the arms deal with GFC. Moreover, Fana Hlongwane, advisor to former defence minister Joe Modise, is alleged to have received R250 million in commissions as a result of the arms deal with BAE.

There are literally hundreds of boxes of documents and millions of computer-generated documents in the possession of the Hawks, and yet they refuse to continue with the investigation into the arms deal.

Most perplexing is the fact that the Hawks will not "follow the money" and investigate the "onward payments" made by Fana Hlongwane as part of the arms deal with BAE.
The fact is that the Hawks know that arms deal corruption goes all the way to the highest levels of government, and by closing the investigation the Hawks have effectively let some very big political fish off the hook.

The DA will therefore write to Themba Godi, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and request an urgent special hearing into the termination of the arms deal investigation by the Hawks. Present at the hearing should be:

* General Anwar Dramat - head of the Hawks; and
* Advocate Menzi Simelane - head of the National Prosecuting Authority.

They need to explain why the investigation into corruption in the arms deal was closed.

Moreover, Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach - head of the Special Commercial Crimes Unit - should be present to explain the progress made with requests for "mutual legal assistance" to foreign countries which may assist in the investigation into the arms deal.

The fact is that we cannot stand by and let the biggest corruption scandal in the history of our country be buried by the Hawks.

Joint statement issued by David Maynier, MP, Democratic Alliance Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, and Patricia de Lille, Western Cape MEC for Social Development, October 17 2010

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