SA man 'tried to sell bio-weapons to FBI'

[Amanzi]

By Zelda Venter


Bio-weapons materials developed during the apartheid era remain in private hands in South Africa and are attracting interest from overseas buyers, The Washington Post reported on Sunday.

In the first of a two-part series, the newspaper tells the full story of how Pretoria scientist Daan Goosen sent the US agency a toothpaste tube containing a bacterial hybrid that fused the genes of a common intestinal bug with DNA from the pathogen that causes the deadly illness, gas gangrene.

He also promised delivery of vials containing bacteria that cause anthrax, plague, salmonella and botulism, as well as antidotes for many of the diseases.

He said the "products" should have been destroyed when South Africa dismantled its chemical, nuclear and biological programmes, but were not
In return, said the Post, Goosen wanted $5-million (about R50-million) and immigration permits for himself and 19 others.

The FBI rejected the offer and turned the matter over to South African authorities, who investigated Goosen twice but did not charge him, and raided his laboratory but confiscated nothing.

On Sunday night, Goosen confirmed sending the toxic toothpaste tube but denied any wrongdoing.

"All I did was to offer to help them make vaccine and antibodies for anthrax against infections in sheep. We have the technology here and we thought we could help. I did not do anything against the law."

He was also adamant that he did not ask for the payment of $5-million. "They made me an offer but they were not really interested."

Goosen, who said he had merely sought US funding for his research, said the Americans wanted the research to take place in the US, not in South Africa. "I just wanted to work with the Americans, but now I am no longer interested. They brought this upon themselves," Goosen said.

He said that after the deal went sour, he was approached by "some Germans and a friendly Arabic country".

"They wanted dangerous organisms from me, but I was not interested."



This article was originally published on page 1 of The Star on 21 April 2003