Former African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni asked Michael Woerful to organise a luxury car at a 50% discount, the businessman said on Friday.
He was embarrassed by the request but acceded, Woerfel said in a statement submitted to Pretoria’s Commercial Crimes Court.
The businessman said did not want to disturb his good relationship with Yengeni by refusing.
After making some enquiries, he told Yengeni the vehicle, a Mercedes Benx ML-320A, could be obtained for about R310 000.
Woerfel said he expected Yengeni to accept this was the price at which the car would be provided.
”However, (Yengeni) asked for a very significant discount and in fact asked to acquire the vehicle at half the retail price.”
Woerfel denied the discount was given with the intent to influence Yengeni in any way.
Earlier on Friday, the two men pleaded not guilty to corruption and fraud charges.
This followed a ruling by magistrate Bill Moyses dismissing an application by Yengeni for further particulars from the State on the charges against him.
Yengeni faces a charge of corruption for allegedly buying a luxury Mercedes Benz 4×4 at a 47% discount in return for using his influence to ”market” the products of DaimlerBenz Aerospace AG or DaimlerBenz Aerospace SA.
Woerfel, then head of DaimlerBenz’s Pretoria representative office, is charged with corruption for allegedly arranging the deal.
Both men face a charge of fraud for alleged false representations made in the agreement of sale.
Yengeni also submitted a statement to the court on Friday in which he admitted to receiving a discount on the Mercedes Benz but said he had no corrupt intent.
The former chief whip said he was not asked to commit any act in his capacity as a member of Parliament or as chairman of the joint standing committee of defence, nor did he undertake to do so.
He was not asked to further the interest of Woerfel’s company nor did he undertake or intended to do this.
Yengeni said he was not able to affect the outcome of the arms acquisition process and he never suggested that he was able to do so. – Sapa