Swiss engineer sentenced for role in South Africa nuclear smuggling ring

6 February 2008

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – A Swiss engineer was sentenced by a South African court Tuesday for his part in an international nuclear smuggling ring, the South African Press Association reported.

Daniel Geiges, 69, was given a 13-year suspended sentence by the Pretoria High Court where he faced charges relating to a network run by disgraced Pakistan nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan.

In a plea agreement, the state agreed to suspend Geiges’s sentence for five years. A South African resident, Geiges is gravely ill with cancer.

Geiges also agreed to cooperate with South African and international nuclear authorities as well as testify in other proceedings.

Geiges admitted guilt to five charges of contravening the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act and the Nuclear Energy Act.

He admitted that in the late 1990s and early 2000s he had been involved in the clandestine illegal import, export and manufacture of components relating to nuclear equipment and material.

He also admitted to an attempt to export nuclear-related equipment.

Geiges’ former boss and co-accused, German engineer Gerhard Wisser, 68, was given an 18-year suspended sentenced last year in a plea agreement for his role in the network.
[Copyright ap 2008]