Tip-off led to SA man's arrest

2004-01-14 22:04

Ziegfried Ekron

Cape Town - A United States electronics firm allegedly worked with authorities to trap a Cape Town businessman who is suspected of having smuggled parts for nuclear weapons from America to Pakistan via South Africa.

The Cape Town-based Israeli, Asher Karni, is being held in Denver, Colorado, after originally ordering 200 high-speed electronic switches, which are used to ignite nuclear missiles.

He is being charged with attempting to buy high-speed electronic switches in the US and for trying to export them to Pakistan via South Africa.

According to Denver's Rocky Mountain News, Karni placed his order with Perkin Elmer Optoelectronics in the US.

The company said Karni was aware that, according to US law, it was illegal to export the components to Pakistan.

Working in conjunction with authorities, the company however supplied Karni with 66 components, but rendered them ineffective.

Karni claimed on export documents the components were earmarked for South African hospitals.

But the US company said hospitals had ordered only five or six at a time and used them to break up kidney stones.

Appealed against the bail order

Karni was arrested on January 2 when he arrived in the United States at Denver International Airport.

Meanwhile, Karni will know on Thursday whether he will be released on bail, which was set by a Denver magistrate on Monday at $75 000 (about R522 000).

The US attorney-general's office has appealed against the order and this is scheduled to be heard on Thursday.

According to court documents submitted by the state prosecutor, Karni was fully aware that such a sale was in contravention of US law.

State evidence was based on copies of Karni's e-mails regarding the transaction. These were passed on to US authorities anonymously.

- Die Burger