Transnet has hired auditors to identify employees who leaked information to the press about a controversial deal it made with a company in which Gupta associate Salim Essa has a 60% stake. PwC began a forensic investigation after the Sunday Times ran a story earlier this year in which it revealed Essa was to profit from lucrative Transnet contracts that are under investigation by the National Treasury.Essa, who benefited from a multibillion-rand partnership with state arms manufacturer Denel that Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan wants reversed, could now be in line to score millions more.This follows a decision by the Transnet board to approve the cession of major advisory contracts from Regiments Capital to Trillian Capital Partners, a company that was registered last year and in which Essa holds a 60% stake.Transnet spokeswoman Viwe Tlaleane said this week the company was within its rights to conduct the investigation. "The company is currently investigating unauthorised distribution of confidential information by employees," she said.However, a source close to the investigation said employees had been harassed and intimidated."To date, more than 100 employees have been interviewed on the source of the leaks. The interview involves being asked whether one had seen the article, level of understanding, proximity to the journalists who wrote the stories and identity of who the leaker may be."story_article_left1The source claimed the phone records and e-mail accounts of all the suspected employees had been checked."Recently, the mobile phones and laptops of certain suspected employees were confiscated for over five days for imaging in Pretoria. The costs of the forensic investigation are spiralling out of control, but all the employees are scared to raise the matter," said the source.Tlaleane said the investigation was being conducted "within legal prescripts and without harassment or intimidation".She said that although PwC was not on Transnet's panel of service providers, it had been contracted as a subcontractor by Werksmans Attorneys, which was on the panel.Tlaleane did not answer specific questions put to her about the investigation.Instead, she said the company had an anonymous tip-off service aimed at encouraging employees and members of the public to report irregularities and any suspicious behaviour within the company, without fear of reprisal or victimisation."Transnet has an obligation to protect its intellectual property and confidential business information."The company regularly reviews and strengthens its information-sharing systems to avoid exposure to potential damage claims and reputational risk," she said."This is to ensure that our governance processes, risk management and control systems are not compromised and that no one breaches their conditions of employment," she added...