Shaik: I did not solicit bribe

2005-02-28 12:22

Durban - Fraud and corruption accused Schabir Shaik completed his testimony for the defence in the Durban High Court on Monday.

During his testimony he said he had never tried to mislead the revenue service, shareholders of his companies, or banks.

He has also denied State allegations that he tried to solicit a R500 000 per annum bribe for deputy president Jacob Zuma from the French arms company Thomson CSF.

Details of that alleged bribe are contained in an encrypted fax which was authored by the former head of Thomson's South Africa operations, Alain Thetard.

Shaik said the first time he heard about the fax was when it appeared in the newspapers.

"I was quite enraged, disappointed and shocked," he said.

Shaik said he flew to Paris to meet Thetard and was accompanied by his attorney Reeves Parsee and senior counsel Nirmal Singh to find out what the fax was all about.

The answer they got from Thetard were "unsatisfactory".

Shaik said Thetard had appeared confused and was not even sure if he had written the fax.

On his return to South Africa, Shaik went to see Zuma who was not happy with the feedback and asked that another meeting be arranged with the French.

Although Thetard's lawyer told Shaik that his clients would no longer be available for meetings, Shaik did attend a gathering Paris with the legal representatives of all parties.

Shaik said Zuma wrote to Thomson boss Jean-Paul Perrier requesting more information about the fax.

Shaik received the letter on behalf of Zuma.

The trial continues.

- SAPA