Hawks cop out of following up arms deal corruption allegations in Germany
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is disappointed by General Anwa Dramat, Head of the Directorate of Priority Crimes (Hawks), response to our request for a preliminary investigation into "questionable and improper payments" made by Ferrostaal, which was part of the consortium that supplied submarines to South Africa.
General Anwa Dramat responded to my request, in a letter dated 22 August 2011, inter alia, as follows:
"It is noted that the report that you have forwarded to this office is clearly marked "Privileged & Confidential" and that it contains attorney-client communications. There is no indication given that the privilege has been waived. As such the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation can neither have insight into, nor utilize the report for any purpose whatsoever".
There is no indication that the Hawks intend to approach Ferrostaal through official channels to obtain a copy of the final report of the compliance investigation, conducted by Debevoise & Plimpton, into the "questionable and improper" payments made by Ferrostaal in connection with the contract to supply submarines to South Africa.
The fact is that this amounts to a form of investigative lethargy and a cop out by the Hawks.
I have, therefore, this morning written to General Anwa Dramat to find out why it is not possible to officially approach Ferrostaal to make available a copy of the final report, together with the documents and accounting data retrieved from Ferrostaal South Africa (Pty) Ltd.
A spokesperson for Ferrostaal is on record in the media as stating that "if we were approached by South African Public Prosecutors of course we would assist them and cooperate".
The arms deal was possibly the biggest corruption scandal in the history of South Africa.
We cannot allow the truth about who took bribes and for what purpose to be swept under the carpet by the Hawks.
Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, August 23 2011
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