How Thales ‘charmed ministers with whisky’

But Maduna and Lekota cannot recall Moynot’s Blue Label blitz

IN an affidavit filed in the High Court in Pretoria, lawyer Ajay Sooklal tells how French company Thales, facing corruption charges, used a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label to try to win over Penuell Maduna and Mosiuoa Lekota.

At the time, Maduna was minister of justice and Lekota minister of defence.

Sooklal describes how the tipple was indirectly given to the two ministers by Thales boss Pierre Moynot during a visit to India in 2003 by a delegation of ministers led by the then president Thabo Mbeki.

“Moynot thought it was a good idea to join the delegation . . . to get closer in particular to the minister of defence and the minister of justice and constitutional development, who were part of the delegation,” the affidavit said.

Moynot urged Sooklal to arrange a meeting between him and Maduna at a Mumbai hotel.

“I made contact with Maduna, who invited me over to his room. We chatted about the media statement which had been made by [Bulelani] Ngcuka and I informed him that Moynot wanted to meet him because his company was directly involved with [Schabir] Shaik and it had been announced that his company would be joined as an accused in . . . criminal action.

“While talking to Maduna, Lekota joined us . . . The reaction of Maduna was that he was not prepared to meet ‘that rogue’ [Moynot].

“Lekota indicated that he had a JW Black Label whisky which he invited us to participate in.

“I . . . said that Moynot had two bottles of Blue Label whisky . . . I offered to fetch these and Maduna and Lekota readily acceded thereto.

“I reported to Moynot what had happened and . . . reported back to Maduna and Lekota with a bottle of Blue Label whisky.”

Sooklal said Moynot later went to the table where Maduna and Lekota were dining to greet them.

Lekota — now leader of COPE — said this week he could not remember the events. “It was a long time ago. It probably happened but honestly I can’t remember it,” he said.

Maduna also said he could not remember the incident. “He might have given me a bottle of whisky, I can’t deny it, but it was definitely not a bribe.”

Sooklal claimed Maduna, Ngcuka and representatives of Thint and Thales met in April 2004 to discuss withdrawing charges against Thales.

“Maduna was of the view that the publicity associated with the Shaik trial would impact negatively on the Thint Group and that he was prepared . . . to recommend to Ngcuka to withdraw the charges.”

He said Ngcuka agreed to withdraw the charges if Thales official Alain Thetard provided an affidavit saying he was the author of an encrypted fax which contained details on payments to Zuma. The affidavit was provided, following which charges against Thales were withdrawn. However, the company was later recharged.