Revelations In BAE Saudi Case Prompt Inquiry Call -- The TelegraphA senior MP has demanded a parliamentary inquiry into Britain’s £43 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia after a leaked US diplomatic cable disclosed the full case against BAE Systems, the defence contractor.
The Serious Fraud Office dropped the investigation in December 2006, after intense diplomatic pressure from the Saudis. BAE was fined by US authorities last year after it admitted a relatively minor charge of making false statements. It faced no action in Britain over the Saudi allegations and until now the full details of the case have been kept secret.
However, a US cable given to the WikiLeaks website and obtained by The Daily Telegraph discloses the strength of the investigators’ case. Written four months after the collapse of the investigation, it shows the SFO had evidence that:
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Update: WikiLeaks cable alleges fraud in arms deal -- UPI
My Comment: This inquiry will probably go forward. The Labour Party was the government at the time, and it was their decision to suspend any further investigations of fraud or illegality in the BAE arms deal to Saudi Arabia. My gut is telling me that some embarrassing information on how the Labour Party officials treated this case is going to be made public .... further embarrassing the Party and some of its past officials.
