Nuclear contravention probe ongoing: SA council
2004-09-10 17:28
By Donwald Pressly
Cape Town - The investigation into the contravention of South African legislation governing the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the country''s Nuclear Energy Act has been underway for "several months", the chairperson of the South African Council for the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Abdul Minty said on Friday.
In a statement, Minty said this applied to the contravention of the Non- Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1993 and the Nuclear Energy Act of 1999.
Minty noted that two individuals - Gerhard Wisser, 66 and Daniel Geiges, 65 - had been arrested on September 8 on charges relating to these contraventions. They were charged on Thursday by the Vanderbijlpark regional court with illegally exporting equipment to enrich uranium, a key ingredient for making bombs. It was reported on Friday that both men, who are of German descent, live permanently in South Africa.
They faced four counts of contravening the two pieces of legislation.
"The council is aware that the German authorities also charged Mr Wisser on 25 August and released him on bail. Mr Wisser was charged with "Beihilfe zu Landesverrat" (complicity in treason or assisting treason) and for the violation of arms control legislation," said Minty.
Minty noted that "investigations are ongoing".
The arrest of the two men follow the arrest last week of a South African businessman Johan Meyer for his alleged involvement in a nuclear smuggling network believed to be linked to the making of atomic weapons for Libya. Charges against his were dropped on Wednesday - the day the two German men were arrested.
It has not yet been confirmed that Meyer is co-operating with the authorities in exchange for immunity from prosecution.
But Minty said: "These investigations by the South African authorities have been undertaken in co-operation with other countries as well as with the International Atomic Energy Agency. These investigations have also taken place in the context of the so-called Khan network through which certain countries were provided with nuclear technology by way of networks established in various countries, as well as the information obtained following Libya''s announcement of the abandonment of its nuclear weapons programme."
He was referring to the alleged link to Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan apparently involved in helping Libya develop atomic weapons.
Minty said: "The allegations being investigated in South Africa relate to the import and export of a controlled flow-forming lathe, as well as the production and possession of certain components of a centrifuge enrichment plant without the necessary permits.
"Based on further investigations into the activities of some companies and individuals who may have been involved in the alleged contravention of the relevant South African legislation, further evidence has now been obtained," he said.
End
Tel: +27-11-280-0826, newsdesk@inet.co.za
Copyright 2004 I-Net Bridge. All rights reserved.