The managing director of a Cape Town-based defence information technology company will today continue his testimony at the hearings into the Government's multi-billion rand arms deal.

In his testimony in Pretoria yesterday Mr Richard Young, the first witness outside the Government to testify in the public hearings into the arms deal, accused prominent figures of misrepresenting facts to procure the strategic defence package.

Those implicated by Young include the head of acquisition in the Defence Department, Mr. Chippy Shaik, former Corvette programme manager Mr. Frits Nortje and Corvette project officer Mr. Johnny Kamerman, who has since been promoted to rear-admiral.

Young also disputed earlier testimony heard by the presiding panel in several respects.

It was, for example, difficult to believe evidence by Cabinet ministers that the Government had nothing to do with the awarding of sub-contracts, Young said.

He contends that there were irregularities in the awarding of a R40-million tender for information management systems used in the four corvettes South Africa bought under the arms package.

Young's testimony comprises a typed document of more than 70 pages.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Daily News.