SFO in UK High Court over dropped BAE bribery investigation

(The Corner House, Dorset, 18 February 2008) On 14-15 February 2008, two UK High Court judges heard arguments in a judicial review requested by Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) and The Corner House, who argue that the decision to drop the BAE corruption investigation into UK export credit supported arms sales to Saudi Arabia was illegal. They did not give a ruling but said they would do so "as soon as possible". Documents released on the first day of the hearing (14 February 2008) reveal that BAE Systems wrote to the Attorney General on a "strictly private and confidential" basis urging him to halt the Serious Fraud Office investigation into allegations that BAE had bribed Saudi Arabian officials to secure the Al Yamamah arms deal. The company argued that the investigation should be dropped on commercial and diplomatic grounds. To see these and other documents, go to the 'Control BAE' website at the above link.