Head of Firm Charged in Nuclear Investigation
The head of a South African engineering company was charged with trafficking in nuclear-related materials that could be used to make weapons.
A document detailing the charges cites a lathe manufactured by the Spain-based company Denn, for which Johan Meyer, 53, allegedly did not have the necessary permit. It also charges that Denn trafficked in material, equipment and plans for the design and use of gas centrifuges, used to enrich uranium.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. Dec. 2, 2004 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday December 02, 2004 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 News Desk 2 inches; 101 words Type of Material: Correction
Trafficking charges -- A news brief in the Sept. 4 Section A said a Spain-based company, Denn, had been charged with trafficking in material, equipment and plans for the design and use of gas centrifuges, used to enrich uranium. It was Johan Meyer, the head of a South African engineering company, who was charged with possessing those items. Meyer also was accused of lacking a permit to import a lathe manufactured by Denn, but the company was not charged. After the report ran, a South African website, News24, said that Meyer turned state’s witness and that charges against him were dropped.
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