Serious Fraud Office drops case against BAE
sparta | 15.12.2006 00:28
The Serious Fraud Office has dropped the corruption probe into BAE systems following possible 'damage to national security'.
BBC Article - 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6180945.stm
CAAT release - http://www.caat.org.uk/press/recent.php?url=141206prs
"Lord Goldsmith said that both Mr Blair and Defence Secretary Des Browne had argued that carrying on the investigation would harm intelligence and diplomatic co-operation with Saudi Arabia, in turn damaging the UK's national security."
Hilariously, the SFO states that "No weight has been given to commercial interests or to the national economic interest" in making the decision to drop the fraud case. This despite the fact that UK companies 'voiced fears that they stood to lose other lucrative deals should the probe have continued' and that 'Al Yamamah contract with Saudi Arabia is thought to have been worth £40bn to BAE Systems over the past two decades'.
CAAT's press release states that 'this outrageous decision demonstrates the huge influence of arms companies and arms deals within Government', and furthermore, a blatant disregard for the law.
A complete and utter disgrace.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6180945.stm CAAT release -
http://www.caat.org.uk/press/recent.php?url=141206prs "Lord Goldsmith said that both Mr Blair and Defence Secretary Des Browne had argued that carrying on the investigation would harm intelligence and diplomatic co-operation with Saudi Arabia, in turn damaging the UK's national security."
Hilariously, the SFO states that "No weight has been given to commercial interests or to the national economic interest" in making the decision to drop the fraud case. This despite the fact that UK companies 'voiced fears that they stood to lose other lucrative deals should the probe have continued' and that 'Al Yamamah contract with Saudi Arabia is thought to have been worth £40bn to BAE Systems over the past two decades'.
CAAT's press release states that 'this outrageous decision demonstrates the huge influence of arms companies and arms deals within Government', and furthermore, a blatant disregard for the law.
A complete and utter disgrace.
sparta
Additions
Police were bugged in effort to halt BAe Saudi arms inquiry
23.12.2006 01:37
"Detectives investigating alleged corruption in BAe's dealings with Saudi Arabia believe that the probe was being bugged, The Independent on Sunday has been told. A source close to the investigation made the remarkable claim as Tony Blair's defence for stopping it on the grounds of national interest began to unravel."
Police: we were bugged in effort to halt BAe Saudi arms inquiry
By Francis Elliott, Whitehall Editor
Published: 17 December 2006
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2081669.ece
Police: we were bugged in effort to halt BAe Saudi arms inquiry
By Francis Elliott, Whitehall Editor
Published: 17 December 2006
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2081669.ece
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