State wants R34m from Shaik

2006-01-16 06:59

Adriaan Basson

Pretoria - Jacob Zuma's "generally corrupt relationship" with Schabir Shaik was, according to the state, worth more than R34m and it wants every cent back.

The National Prosecuting Authority's Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) will this week file an application with the Durban High Court for a warrant giving the state control over Shaik's assets in the arms manufacturing company that profited from the multi-million rand arms deal.

In the application filed with the court, the state requests that a R250 000 bribe paid to Zuma by French arms manufacturer Thales also be recovered from Shaik's funds.

Shaik was last year found guilty by Judge Hilary Squires on two charges of corruption and one of fraud, and sentenced to an effective 15 years' imprisonment. His appeal will be heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal later this year.

Shortly after Shaik was found guilty, the AFU indicated that it wanted to attach Shaik's assets in accordance with the Organised Crime Prevention Act.

State will focus on four benefits

Squires agreed that the assets be placed in curatorship until he had heard arguments.

Wenesday will be D-Day for Shaik to retain his assets when he comes face to face with the state's formidable legal team under Win Trengove SC. Criminals must, according to law, resign as director of their companies but they remain in charge of their assets.

The state will focus on four benefits Shaik and his Nkobi Group obtained as a result of his corrupt relationship with Zuma:

20% shares in African Defence Systems (ADS) to the value of R21m;

ADS dividends to the value of R12.7m;

R500 000 received by Nkobi Investments for the sale of its shares in Thint Holdings to Thales; and

R250 000 paid by Thales to Kobitech as a "bribe" for Zuma.

The state will have to convince Squires of a link between Shaik's corrupt relationship with Zuma and his obtaining of these benefits.

According to the state there is an "overwhelming possibility" that Shaik's relationship with Zuma was the main reason for Thales to do business with Shaik.

- Beeld