What 'Chippy' Shaik did in the arms deal according to a former Rear Admiral

Rear Admiral Jonathan Kamerman has denied that Shamin “Chippy” Shaik, had undue influence in the frigate selection process and the combat system they used.

Kamerman is the former director of South Africa’s Project Sitron, and Shaik was the arms deal’s former acquisition chief.

This was one of several allegations and insinuations of irregularities in the contracting phase of the project made by Richard Young, managing director of C²I² Systems, a losing bidder in the arms deal, and by former ANC MP Andrew Feinstein and arms deal researcher Paul Holden that Kamerman disputed.

The contract to supply the combat system to be fitted in the frigates was awarded to African Defence Systems (ADS), a company where Shaik’s wife was employed.

Kamerman said the combat suite negotiations with the representatives of the German consortium and of the South African industry participants began in January 1999 and Shaik was not present.

Kamerman said the only potential conflict of interest he became aware of was that Shaik’s wife worked for ADS.

He said Shaik had indicated in December 1998 that he had a possible conflict of interest and would recuse himself from any decision taken on the combat suite.

According to Kamerman, Shaik physically left the room in Project Control Board (PCB) meetings, whenever the combat suites were raised.

PCB was established in 1998 to control and regulate procedures during the contract negotiation phase of the arms deal between December 1998 and December 1999.

Kamerman also dismissed an insinuation that his joining ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems a few months after his retirement from the Navy in 2006 was the fulfillment of a bribe in return for corrupt acts he carried in the selection of the German Frigate Consortium (GFC) as the preferred bidder for the supply of the frigates.

ThyssenKrupp was part of the German Frigate Consortium which won the tender to supply the Navy with the frigates.

On Monday, Kamerman had explained to the Arms Procurement Commission the processes, events and decisions as they transpired during Project Sitron’s acquisition of the four frigates, which are now all in service for the Navy.