Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
Mr Ramesh Vassen has requested the Department of Foreign Affairs to release the following statement on his behalf:
QUOTE
I have noted the controversy surrounding my appointment to India as Consul General for South Africa. I am also acutely sensitive to the public concerns on the matter.
I should like to place on record that I have not been convicted by a court of law and that I do not have a criminal record, despite persistent attempts by certain political parties to characterise me as such. I have been deeply hurt by these distortions which have negatively affected the public perceptions on the matter.
I recognise that I have made a mistake by borrowing money from a Trust Fund; however, I would like to emphasise again that I marked it as a loan and repaid all the monies.
As regards the persistent reference to the eighteen (18) incidences of underbanking I wish to state that I was a sole practitioner with no partners or professional assistants and due to a lack of back-up these errors occurred. Upon being advised of my shortfalls I immediately paid these amounts in. Not a single client suffered any loss nor did the fidelity fund have to pay out any moneys on my behalf.
In the light of the above, I have informed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Alfred Nzo, that in the interest of the Department, and indeed of South Africa I have decided not to take up my appointment to India.
My family and I suffered terrible trauma and heavy financial losses as a result. I deeply regret the one major lapse in my life and appeal to both the public and the media to allowme and my family to pull our lives together again.
I have been in practice for over twenty (20) years as Human Rights lawyer and served my clients and the community with total dedication.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank all those people who have stood by me, telephoned and called on me personally expressing their abhorrence of the tactics of a certain political party and the factually misleading reporting of the medial their support for me during this difficult time has been a great solace to me and my family.
I also wish to thank the Ministry and the Department of Foreign Affairs for their support and their confidence in me.
I have come to my decisions in the belief that it is the honourable thing for me to protect the interest of my country, which I have always held very dear to me
Signed by: Ramesh Vassen Cape Town 6 February 1999