Switzerland Opens Nuclear Investigation

[seemslikeadream]

Wednesday October 13, 2004 9:31 PM


By BALZ BRUPPACHER

Associated Press Writer

BERN, Switzerland (AP) - Prosecutors on Wednesday opened an investigation into two Swiss citizens suspected of illegally exporting nuclear-bomb-making technology to Libya, a spokesman for the prosecutors office said.

The spokesman, Hansjuerg Mark Wiedmer, declined to identify the suspects. But one investigative source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said one was Swiss engineer Urs Tinner, who was arrested in Germany last week.

The Swiss agency that polices adherence to international sanctions disclosed in February that it had opened an investigation to determine whether Tinner had broken Swiss law by making precision parts in Malaysia that were destined for Libya.

He is believed to have been part of the international clandestine network of Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, which helped Libya's nuclear program, German authorities said.

German prosecutors said they were preparing treason charges against the engineer.

more
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4548673,00.html

[acmavm]

1. So Saddam wasn't the problem, it's the frigging SWISS??? Who'd

have thunk it?

[seemslikeadream]

2. South Africa

Swiss arrested for alleged aid to Libya


By TONY CZUCZKA
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

....

The engineer is believed to have been part of the international clandestine network of Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, which helped Libya's nuclear program, German federal prosecutors said Monday.

Authorities allege that Urs Tinner, 39, oversaw machine work in Malaysia on gas centrifuge parts that were intercepted by Western intelligence in October 2003 on a ship bound for Libya, and that he trained Libyans in their use.

...

Swiss and German officials did not release the suspect's name, but an investigative source confirmed to The Associated Press that the man arrested last week was Tinner.

Tinner is accused of supervising the production of more than 2,000 centrifuge parts at a Malaysian company between 2001 and 2003 at the request of Buhary Seyed Abu Tahir, a Sri Lankan who prosecutors said was a middleman between the network and Libya.

...

A Malaysian police report in February had named Tinner as having overseen machine work on centrifuge parts at Malaysian-based Scomi Precision Engineering, also known as SCOPE.

....

In August, German authorities arrested Gerhard Wisser, a suspect in an alleged effort by the network to supply pipes to Libya for use in uranium enrichment. He was released on bail but re-arrested in South Africa in September.
more
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apeurope_story.asp?category=1103&slug=Germany%20Libya%20Nuclear

Sth Africa's nuclear smuggling case gets UN help


Sth Africa's nuclear smuggling case gets UN help
Friday, 17 September 2004, 12:29 pm
Press Release: United Nations

South Africa gets help from UN atomic watchdog in probing nuclear smuggling case

South African authorities are working closely with the United Nations atomic watchdog agency in investigating cases of illicit trafficking of sensitive nuclear technology allegedly intended to help Libya’s now-abandoned nuclear weapons programme.

Earlier this year the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called for a “vital” upgrading of security to prevent nuclear technology from falling into the wrong hands through an emerging global network of sophisticated black marketeering in weapons technology.

The Chairman of the South African Council for the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Abdul Samad Minty, told a media briefing in Vienna, where the IAEA Board of Governors is meeting, that the probe related to the import and export of a controlled flow-forming lathe as well as production and possession of certain components associated with a centrifuge enrichment plant.

Arrests have been made and police searches of companies and facilities have uncovered shipping containers associated with a centrifuge uranium enrichment plant, he said yesterday. Enriched uranium can be used to produce nuclear bombs. IAEA safeguards inspectors have placed the containers as well as other uncovered equipment under Agency seal, he added.
more
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0409/S00228.htm


South Africa Reports Critical Stage in Nuclear Black Market Probe

Daniel Geiges, front, and Gerhard Wisser, back, appear in court in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, Thursday Sept. 9

Marlene Smith
Vienna
15 Sep 2004, 14:07 UTC

South Africa has told the International Atomic Energy Agency it has carried out raids to secure nuclear equipment and documents that authorities believe were part of a global black market, selling weapons designs to countries like Libya.
The South African government began investigating the illicit smuggling network run by Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Quadeer Khan last year with the help of information provided by Libya.

....

He told reporters that as many as 30 countries, many European, could have been involved in the network under investigation for supplying Libya, Iran, and North Korea with nuclear technology.

....

Mr. Minty said police raids discovered 11 shipping containers of components associated with a centrifuge uranium-enrichment plant as well as instrumentation and documents. The equipment was seized and placed under IAEA seals.

"The investigation has reached a sensitive stage. I should say now that the matter is extremely sensitive and because we are turning at critical points of the investigation and at the same time we have court cases," he said.

Mr. Minty said two men, Daniel Geiges and South African-German citizen Gerhard Wisser, face charges for illegally importing, exporting, and possessing and producing controlled items in activities going back three or four years. Both men were connected with Krisch Engineering and Tradefin Engineering, companies raided by the South African police where illegal nuclear-related equipment was found.
....
more
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=8A9A4BA2-D5F5-4A4F-8D9329DCF73461AC&title=South%20Africa%20Reports%20Critical%20Stage%20in%20Nuclear%20Black%20Market%20Probe

'Nuclear' case opens in S Africa


<snip> The case came as South Africa agreed to co-operate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its investigation of the activities of the Pakistani scientist, AQ Khan.

Dr Khan last year confessed to leaking nuclear secrets illegally to countries including Libya, Iran and North Korea.

IAEA's head Mohamed ElBaradei said on Tuesday the South African investigation was providing good information about the Libyan and Iranian nuclear programmes. <snip>

A third man - who was arrested last week on similar charges - decided to turn state witness to help the investigation, Mr MacAdam said. <snip>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3664258.stm

Two Men Charged with Smuggling Nuclear Equipment to Appear in S. African C



Daniel Geiges, front, and Gerhard Wisser, back, appear in court in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, Thursday Sept. 9/AP


Johan Meyer is seen during brief appearance at Magistrate's Court in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, Friday, Sept. 3 /AP

In South Africa, two men charged with smuggling nuclear-related equipment to Libya are expected to appear in court again Tuesday. They are among several people linked to South Africa who have been arrested around the world and accused of supplying Tripoli with nuclear materials.
Three arrests in South Africa in just over a week, all for smuggling nuclear-related equipment. The first to be charged was businessman Johan Meyer.

Police searched Mr. Meyer's business and seized 11 shipping containers holding what they call "components of a centrifuge uranium enrichment plant." The equipment is not in itself a weapon of mass destruction, but it is a key part of the process of building a nuclear bomb.

Daniel Geiges, front, and Gerhard Wisser, back, appear in court in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, Thursday Sept. 9/AP


Mr. Meyer's arrest hit the headlines after the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria congratulated South Africa for its work in breaking the nuclear proliferation network of Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb.

Daniel Geiges, front, and Gerhard Wisser, back, appear in court in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, Thursday Sept. 9/AP

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200409/200409140007.html

Bail postponed for nuclear accused


The bail application of two Randburg men charged under laws against the proliferation of nuclear weapons was postponed at the Vanderbijlpark Regional Court until Thursday to give their lawyers time to study new documents.

Their lawyers said they needed more time to study and reply to "voluminous documentation", which also contained affidavits relating to their arrests.

When led up to the court, Wisser, the managing director of Krisch Engineering, looked calm, but his director Geiges looked bleak.

Wisser's attorney, Claudia Privato, said the documents they needed to study related to the state opposing bail for their clients.

Wisser was already on bail on similar charges in Germany.


Wisser's advocate, Anand Choudree, said earlier he wanted bail for Wisser on the grounds that a German court, where he faced similar charges, had also granted bail.

more
http://www.bday.co.za/bday/content/direct/1,3523,170447...


Suspect In High-Level WMD Smuggling Ring Disappears

Weekend Argus Saturday 11th September, 2004

A South African engineer implicated in an international nuclear smuggling network has vanished.

The disappearance of Johan Meyer comes as government officials continue to hold their cards close to their chest about their 'inquiries' into the network.

Refusing to comment 'in depth' about investigations into the syndicate allegedly supplying Libya, Iran and North Korea with materials for their nuclear programmes, officials would only say they were working closely with international agencies.

Meyer, who was arrested last week, 'disappeared' on Wednesday after the withdrawal of all charges against him in South Africa's Vanderbijlpark magistrate's court.
more
http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=6188b6c485c500bc

WMD mystery deepens as engineer 'vanishes'
Meyer is believed to be providing law enforcement agents with details of at least 15 businessmen and businesses allegedly involved in the sale and manufacturing of nuclear equipment for rogue nations such as Libya, Iran and North Korea.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art...


S.Africa arrests two on WMD charges(Abdul Qadeer Khan link)

Thu 9 September, 2004 10:58

By Ed Stoddard

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African police say two suspects have been arrested in a probe into violations of laws related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD), just one day after charges were dropped against another suspect.


Prosecutors dropped charges on Wednesday against a local businessman. Engineer Johan Andries Muller Meyer, 53, was arrested last week under laws outlawing nuclear proliferation.


South Africa's Council for the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Destruction said on Tuesday it had seized 11 shipping containers of uranium enrichment material from Meyer's factory in Vanderbijlpark, 60 km (35 miles) southwest of Johannesburg.

Crucially, the council said the material it seized did not constitute weapons of mass destruction, although it could be used in the process to enrich uranium.

After Meyer's arrest, the United States said the case was linked to an international nuclear black market established in the 1980s by Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan's nuclear programme -- a charge dismissed by his lawyer.


more
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=...


Nuclear Weapons Charges Against South African Man Dropped


By Craig Timberg
Washington Post Foreign Service
Wednesday, September 8, 2004; 2:54 PM

JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 8 -- South African authorities on Wednesday abruptly dropped criminal charges against a Pretoria man charged last week with possessing components for the construction of nuclear weapons.

Today's move was part of a deal in which the man, Johan Andries Muller Meyer, 53, will cooperate with prosecutors to pursue other targets of the investigation, said a source familiar with the probe who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Eleven shipping containers of components for a gas centrifuge, used in the enrichment of uranium, were confiscated, as was related documentation and a machine that can be used to make other weapons components, officials here say.

The arrest was part of a wide-ranging international investigation into the nuclear black market that was established by Pakistan's top nuclear scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan, and that helped Libya and other countries develop nuclear weapons programs.

more
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5652-200...

South African court postpones nuclear smuggling ring case


South African businessman Johan Meyer leaves Vanderbijlpark court

Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 08 September 2004 2038 hrs

VANDERBIJLPARK, South Africa : A South African businessman with alleged links to a global nuclear smuggling ring was remanded in custody for further investigation after unexpectedly withdrawing his bail application.

Johan Meyer, 53, was arrested on Thursday last week and was charged a day later with three counts of possessing sensitive nuclear-related equipment and of illegally importing and exporting nuclear material.

"At this stage, the case will be postponed for further investigation," state prosecutor Chris MacAdam told the court.

"I have been informed (by Meyer's lawyers) that at this stage the bail application has been provisionally withdrawn."

more
http://iafrica.com/news/sa/346152.htm


Charges dropped in WMD case

Posted Wed, 08 Sep 2004

In his first appearance the court was told that his bail application was withdrawn and he was later whisked away, supposedly to prison until his next appearance on October 11.

Meyer was arrested last week and 11 shipping containers containing components of a centrifuge uranium plant and related documentation were seized from his factory premises in the town's industrial zone.

He faced three charges under South Africa's Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act and the Nuclear Energy Act as part of an international investigation which includes the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

A statement on Tuesday from South Africa's Council for the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons said the investigation was "in the context" of the AQ Khan "network"

Abdul Khan was a leading figure in Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme, and was involved in the final test detonation of Pakistan's first nuclear bomb.

Council chairperson Abdul Minty said the items confiscated did not "constitute a weapon of mass destruction, but they are essential components in the process to enrich uranium".
http://iafrica.com/news/sa/346152.htm


S. Africa seizes uranium enrichment materials
Tuesday, September 7, 2004 Posted: 2045 GMT (0445 HKT)


JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) -- South Africa seized 11 shipping containers of uranium enrichment materials in a raid on a firm run by a man it has charged under laws forbidding nuclear proliferation, a government agency said on Tuesday.

The South African Council for the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction said the containers were now stored at a safe location and had been sealed by both South African police and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the two agencies would maintain control.

"IAEA inspectors will visit South Africa on a regular basis to inspect nuclear material and related equipment," the council said in a statement.

It was the first detailed description of the raid last week by police and other investigators on a small engineering firm that led to charges against 53-year-old Johan Andries Muller Meyer for manufacturing nuclear-related material and exporting goods that could be used to develop nuclear weapons.
more
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/africa/09/07/security... /


WMD suspect arrested in Durban


By Anil Singh and Sapa

Hours after the withdrawal of charges against Gauteng businessman Johan Meyer for contravening laws governing weapons of mass destruction and nuclear energy, Durban police swooped on a luxury penthouse on the beachfront and arrested a German-born engineer on similar charges.


The 65-year-old engineer is also facing similar charges in Germany and was arrested a forthnight ago.

'I expect my client to make a court appearance later in the day'
While Durban detectives were making the arrest on the beachfront, detectives arrested another suspect in Sandton.

Spokesperson for the police national commissioner Director Sally de Beer on Thursday confirmed the arrests.


De Beer said she had very few details as the arrests were made late on Thursday night. Police would not release any further information due to the sensitive nature of the investigations. "At this stage we cannot rule out further arrests," said De Beer.

more
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art...


WMD suspect vows to fight 'tooth and nail'
By Jenni Evans

The owner of a Randburg engineering company and one of his engineers appeared in the Vanderbijlpark regional court on Thursday on charges under the Nuclear Energy Act and Weapons of Mass Destruction Act.

Gerhard Wisser and his colleague Daniel Geiges of Krisch Engineering in Strijdompark were appearing for the first time since their arrest on Wednesday night.

Krisch Engineering told Sapa that police had removed files and a computer
Wisser's lawyer Claudia Privato confirmed that Wisser was the same person taken in for questioning by German authorities last month.

Geiges's attorney Kevin Cross said his client was in "complete shock" and was going to be fighting the charges "tooth and nail". Neither attorney said they knew the finer details of the charges.
more
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?sf=2813&click_id=13&art_...


contravening the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act


Indications late yesterday were that Meyer had turned state witness and was providing information to investigators about people and companies that had allegedly been supplying and working for the nuclear black market
more
http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=271&fAr...


Pakistan via South Africa.

South African police said in February Washington had asked for their help in investigating possible associates of Asher Karni, a former Israeli army officer accused by the U.S. government of conspiring to export 200 U.S.-made nuclear weapons detonators to Pakistan via South Africa.
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=...


S. Africa cuts deal with nuclear smuggler

Johan Meyer, 53, was arrested last week at his Tradefin Engineering company in Vanderbijlpark and charged with violating South Africa's weapons proliferation laws.

"He's squealing and willing to do a deal to tell us ... all we want to know," a senior South African official told the Times on condition of anonymity.


Meyer is believed to have been involved in a secretive South African government program to develop nuclear weapons, which was dismantled under international supervision in 1994.
more
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040909-014644...


South African Council for the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruc

The allegations being investigated relate to the import and export of a controlled flow- forming lathe as well as the production and possession of certain components of a centrifuge enrichment plant without the necessary permits. These items do not constitute a weapon of mass destruction, but they are essential components in the process to enrich uranium. It is alleged that these activities were intended to assist in the now abandoned nuclear weapons programme of the Libyan Government.

Acting upon information obtained during the course of the investigation into the activities of some companies and individuals, who may have been involved in the alleged contravention of the relevant South African legislation, a search warrant was obtained to search the premises of Tradefin Engineering, situated in Vanderbijlpark.

On 1 September 2004 this facility was searched by members of the Office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions, the South African Police Services (SAPS) and inspectors as well as other South African technical advisors appointed in terms of the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act.

At the premises of Tradefin Engineering, 11 shipping containers were found containing components of a centrifuge uranium enrichment plant as well as related documentation. In terms of a warrant of arrest, Mr JAM Meyer, a Director at Tradefin Engineering was arrested on 2 September 2004. Mr Meyer was charged with contravening the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act by importing and exporting a flow-forming lathe without the necessary permits.
http://www.dfa.gov.za/docs/2004/weap0906.htm


Charges dropped....BBC on the case:

charges against businessman Johan Meyer, who was arrested last week accused of trafficking nuclear material, have been dropped. The charges - which Mr Meyer denied - had followed a lengthy police investigation, which involved the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.

Officials said the case was linked to an international nuclear black market set up in the 1980s by Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3639244.stm

And you thought the Cold War was OVER??

S. Africa to brief UN on N-smuggling

PRETORIA, Sept 10: South Africa will next week brief the UN's nuclear watchdog agency about recent arrests in connection with an international nuclear smuggling ring with ties to Libya, a senior official said on Friday.

Abdul Minty, chairman of the Council for the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, said the report to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will be made as part of the board's review of Libya's efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

Two German men living permanently in South Africa were charged on Thursday by a South African court with illegally exporting equipment to enrich uranium, a week after a South African businessman was arrested on similar charges.

South African officials said the arrests were part of a probe into ties with a nuclear smuggling network thought to be linked to Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan who admitted in February to helping Libya and other nations develop their weapons programme. -AFP
http://www.dawn.com/2004/09/11/top18.htm



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