/ 23 March 1999

ELF EXECUTIVE HIDING IN SA?

TWO French magistrates probing corruption within the giant Elf-Aquitaine oil group were in South Africa on Tuesday seeking one of the company’s former executives. The daily Le Parisien said Alfred Sirven, for whom there is an Interpol warrant of arrest, is hiding in South Africa and that the two investigating magistrates arrived last weekend. The two have been probing fraud at Elf since 1997. Sirven, wanted for questioning in a vast probe on the abuse of corporate assets by Elf, has been on the run since early 1997.