Libya : A no lie zone

[Carsten Wiethoff]

from http://www.fin24.com/Economy/Squabble-ov...A-20130616

Jun 16 2013 17:41 Jacques Pauw and Thanduxolo Jika

Johannesburg - Two Libyan factions have claimed rights over ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi's treasures stashed in South Africa, City Press reported on Sunday.

Allegations of forged documents, falsified Interpol warrants, and individuals and groups trying to steal the loot emerged after it was recovered.

The Treasury admitted last week that Gaddafi assets, including diamonds, gold and cash to the value of about R10bn, would be returned to Libya in accordance with UN guidelines.

This is the largest haul of Libyan assets found so far. Gaddafi and his cronies stashed away more than $100bn during the dictator's 42 years of rule.

Libyan investigators believe that a sizeable chunk of it was hidden in southern African banks, companies and trusts.

While one group is accusing ANC heavyweights of assisting an "illegitimate" group to recover the assets, the other already held talks with Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and promised to buy about R8bn worth of weapons with the recovered loot.

They also believe crates with gold and cash came via private planes into South Africa.

In an interview with City Press, the second team slammed the alleged role of ANC security head Tito Maleka and ANC-connected businessperson Jackie Mphafudi in the recovery of $1bn of Gaddafi's assets.

City Press was told the second team would shortly arrive in the country. They reportedly teamed up with controversial South African weapons dealer Johan Erasmus.

Erasmus said there was a 10% "recovery fee" on the Gaddafi billions.

According to Erasmus, Mphafudi and Maleka accompanied the two Libyan investigators to see President Jacob Zuma at his Nkandla homestead.

ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said last week the ANC was not involved in the recovery of Gaddafi's assets.

City Press understands that Tag and Goaied have visited South Africa regularly since the fall of Gaddafi to make enquiries about the hidden loot.

Erasmus confirmed that he was in partnership with Goaied and that they had presented Denel with an enormous "shopping list" of arms, including Rooivalk attack helicopters, G6 cannons, unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles.

Clearly the "recovered" money minus "recovery fee" and expenses is to be paid out in South-African weapons. Nothing that Libya needs more...