Publication: The Star Issued: Date: 2007-01-17 Reporter: Sapa

British Executives Named as Suspects in Corruption Inquiry

 

Publication 

The Star
Date

2007-01-17

Reporter

 Sapa

Web Link

www.thestar.co.za

 

London - Senior executives at British defence manufacturer BAE Systems have been named as suspects in a corruption inquiry being conducted by Britain's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) into contracts with South Africa.

The newspaper cited a document requesting mutual legal assistance sent from London to SA, leaked to the Johannesburg Mail and Guardian newspaper.

BAE chief executive Mike Turner, former chairman Dick Evans, group marketing director Mike Rouse and deputy head of BAE's secretive HQ marketing unit Julia Aldridge were all named in the leaked document.

"There is reasonable cause to believe that all the above-named persons and company have committed offences of corruption," the document apparently read, alleging secret payments to South African agents totalling close to £80-million (R1,1-billion).

The request said the secrecy over the payments and the use of offshore BAE unit raised "a legitimate suspicion concerning the real purpose of the payments".

The request for assistance was made as part of an SFO investigation into a £1,5-billion aircraft deal between Britain and SA.

BAE declined to discuss the SFO probe *1.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and The Star.


*1      Now that BAE's been put up, they shut up.

While the torture never stops, at least it's time to laugh and laugh and laugh.