Publication: Sunday Telegraph
Issued:
Date: 2008-03-01
Reporter: Helen Power
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Ambassador
Faces Questions over BAE Deal
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BAE Systems will again come under scrutiny in court on Monday when Britain's
ambassador to Saudi Arabia is expected to be asked if the defence contractor
pressured the Government to drop its bribery investigation into BAE's Saudi arms
contracts.
William Patey, the UK ambassador
to Saudi Arabia
On Monday morning the Information Tribunal will hear an appeal brought by the
Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), which wants access to memos between the
British Government and the Saudis on which BAE's Al-Yamamah contract was based.
CAAT suspects the documents could detail a state-sanctioned bribery regime at
BAE.
It is the second time in just over two weeks that BAE will face a court showdown
after CAAT's lawyer argued at the High Court that BAE lobbied the Government to
drop the case as the Saudis were threatening to cancel a £40bn contract for the
Eurofighter jet.
BAE, which is still under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office for alleged
corrupt practices in its contracts with dozens of other countries, has always
denied any wrongdoing.
A spokesman for BAE said: "As far as we are aware, this information tribunal is
between CAAT and the Ministry of Defence, so it is not for us to comment."
The Government refused a Freedom of Information Act request for two memos last
year on the grounds that releasing them would offend Saudi sensibilities, but
CAAT wants the refusal overruled.
Giving evidence for the Government will be a top Ministry of Defence civil
servant and William Patey, the UK ambassador to Saudi. It is believed CAAT's
lawyers will ask them to detail BAE's involvement in the decision to drop the
investigation and whether the decision was taken to further the commercial
interests of the company and the UK or for national security reasons.
CAAT will also call the Liberal Democrat deputy leader Vince Cable, who will
argue that the memos should be released as they are central to holding the
Government to account over its dealings with Saudi Arabia.
With acknowledgements to Helen Power and Sunday Telegraph.