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'Tainted' official is South Africa's envoy to Bombay

A presidential spokesman has denied a newspaper report in the South African media that President Nelson Mandela had ordered an investigation into the appointment of a 'disbarred lawyer' as consul general to Bombay.

The Sunday Times of Johannesburg reported yesterday that Mandela was having second thoughts about approving the posting of Ramesh Vassen, a lawyer who used to represent anti-apartheid activists.

The newspaper quoted the spokesman as saying Mandela had ordered the probe.

''The president has not asked for an investigation,'' the spokesman said in a telephone interview.

But he added the president approved the appointment on ''the assumption that foreign affairs officials had done their homework.''

The newspaper reported that Vassen lost his right to practice law after the Cape high court in 1996 found him guilty of misusing and stealing money from the estates he was administering.

Foreign affairs officials could not be reached for comment.

UNI

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