M&G wins legal battle to shed light on Maharaj probe

THE Mail & Guardian has won a six-year legal battle to reveal the contents of an interrogation of former minister and presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj.

The newspaper yesterday revealed how Maharaj had allegedly lied in 2003 when questioned by the defunct Scorpions unit. Maharaj was questioned in terms of Section 28 of the constitution in relation to payments he might have received from businessman Schabir Shaik‚ later convicted of facilitating bribes for President Jacob Zuma in relation to the controversial government arms deal. Zuma was deputy president at the time.

The Mail & Guardian reported that Maharaj had lied repeatedly during the Section 28 Scorpions interrogations.

The amaBhungane investigative journalism unit got hold of the transcripts of the Scorpions inquiry in 2011.

In 2011 the Sunday Times newspaper reported that Maharaj‚ during his time as a transport minister‚ had allegedly received bribes between 1997 and 1999 from a French weapons firm at the centre of the arms deal probe.

According to the report‚ Maharaj was paid 1.2 million French francs (about R16.83-million at current rates) through an offshore bank account registered in the name of his wife‚ Zarina.

M&G said it had sent detailed questions to Maharaj. He responded by questioning the source of the newspaper’s investigation. — DDC