TT Durai
Working for arms dealer?
Internet speculation doesn't raise wrongdoing, only curiosity. By Seah Chiang Nee.
Dec 31, 2005

According to transcripts of Mr. T.T. Durai's defamation suit against SPH, the latter's lawyer Davinder Singh produced Durai's CV and asked if it was complete, he replied: 'Not exactly.'

The former National Kidney Foundation CEO disclosed that he had once worked for a company known as Bonyad Marketing Industries, which he described as an Iranian charity for S$7,000 a month.

He said he was its representative in Singapore from 1990 to 1992, but decided to give that up when he became NKF's chief executive. There is no information what his responsibility as representative involved.

Dealing in arms or military parts that is not in breach of any UN or other official embargo is not illegal.

But switching from defence parts sourcing to NKF raises curiosity because it couldn't have been a more contrasting career change. Military weapons and charity are not very compatible.

That's probably why Durai did not include it in his CV's. He had described Bonsad as a charity, and yet told Davinder Singh he had left it out because it was not material.

What is Bonyad Marketing Ind?

From Wikipedia:

Bonyads are Iranian charitable trusts that control over 40% of Iran's GDP. Initially set up during the time of the Shah, they were used to funnel money into the Shah's personal coffers.

After the Iranian revolution, the Bonyads were used to redistribute oil income amongst the poor and amongst the families of martyrs.

Today, Bonyads are a consortium of companies, which are exempt from taxes and answer directly to the unelected supreme leader of Iran.

Bonyads are overstaffed, corrupt, and generally not profitable. In 1999 Mohammad Forouzandeh, a former defence minister, reported that only 20% Iran's Bonyad companies were making a profit.

Other online information:

Mostazafan Foundation had set up a special arms trading company known as Bonyad Marketing Industries, Private Ltd, located at 08/07 Parkway Parade.

In addition to spare parts for Iran's US-built F-4 and F-5 fighters, Bonyad Marketing had been purchasing large quantities of Hewlett Packard and Sun SparcServer computers for use in Iran.

Even before the recent trade embargo, Iran could not readily import computers more advanced than old 386 machines.

But Bonyad Marketing had had no difficulties in purchasing US machines from less regarding commercial outlets in Asia.

Here's the relevant court excerpts: -

Davinder Singh. Is this a complete and comprehensive CV of the matters in which you were engaged during the years covered by the CV?
T.T. Durai. Not exactly.

Q. Why have you omitted some matters?
A. No, I did not include a job, which I did in a company known as Bonyad. That was in I think 1990, 1992, I think.

Q. So this was Bonyad -- what were you doing there?
A. I was the representative in Singapore. It was an Iranian charitable foundation.

Q. How much were you earning there?
A. I was earning $7,000 at that point of time.

Q. In 1992, when this offer of full-time employment was made to you, you were also engaged with Bonyad; right?
A. I had - I think - I believe I gave up that vocation.

Q. No, I am asking you, in 1992. Were you not, when you were offered full-time employment in NKF, but did not take it up, also engaged with Bonyad?
A. I cannot recollect exactly.

Q. Come on, Mr Durai.
A. I think I - yes, I think, yes, I did for a few months in 1990.

Q. Therefore, that explains, does it not, or is one of the reasons why you did not want to take up full-time employment because acting for another charity would have been a conflict?
A. No, I gave that job up.

Q. Would you answer my question, please. At the time you were offered full-time employment, that was one of the reasons you did not take it up, because it would have been a conflict?
A. No, not exactly. Because I decided to give up the vocation in that particular institution.

Q. "Not exactly" meaning?
A. No, I have decided to give up the vocation in that particular organisation, at that point of time.

Q. Why did you not include Bonyad in the CV?
A. I did not think it was material.
Dec 31, 2005