Govt may reopen arms probe

2003-06-03 22:18

Johannesburg - The government's legal advisers have suggested that the investigation into the country's controversial multi-billion rand arms deal be reopened, the SABC reported on Tuesday night.

The legal advisers had said in a confidential report to the chair of parliament's standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) that there were "sufficient grounds" for the enquiry to be re-opened.

The SABC said it had seen the report presented to Scopa chair Francois Beukman.

Beukman, however, refused to confirm that he had been given such a report, although he had received a number of documents relating to the arms procurement programme.

The advice follows after controversy over the alleged editing by auditor general Shauket Fakie of the report of an inquiry into the deal presented to parliament last year. The inquiry was carried out by Fakie, National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka and Public Protector Selby Baqwa.

The edited version of the report is said to have left out findings on gifts received by key players in the arms deal, and omitted "inaccuracies" in a Defence Department presentation to Scopa.

- SAPA