Chippy Shaik goes missing

A Sunday Times report says the former Head of Procurement for the arms deal at the Ministry of Defence and brother of jailed fraudster Schabir Shaik, Shamin Chippy Shaik (46) cannot be found and his family have thrown a net of secrecy over his whereabouts. The paper claims to have been told that he has set plans in motion to flee the country. Schabir Shaik was sent to jail for 15 years for fraud and corruption in the arms deal. Chippy Shaik has emerged as a key figure in bribes probes by the various international agencies, particularly German and British investigators. The Sunday Times says what he fears most is the investigation by German authorities into claims he was paid a R21m bribe by arms manufacturer ThyssenKrupp to ensure the success of the company’s bid to supply SA with submarines. Shaik resigned from the Defence Ministry in 2002 after being suspended and charged for being in possession of classified Cabinet documents. Full Sunday Times report

Meanwhile, SA agencies are not planning a joint probe of the latest allegations. Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana, National Prosecuting Authority head Vusi Pikoli, and Auditor-General Terence Nombembe met last week to discuss the possibility of a joint investigation into several new claims, including the Shaik matter, but according to a report on the IoL site the three decided that each ‘institution would deal with issues that have been raised based on their own mandates’. Full report on the IoL site

But the Public Protector’s office has confirmed it will look into a request by the DA that it investigate claims that Shaik, took a bribe. The DA, says Business Day, made the request to the Public protector last month. Full Business Day report