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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| UK wrong to halt Saudi arms probe | UK wrong to halt Saudi arms probe |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The High Court has ruled that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) acted unlawfully by dropping a corruption inquiry into a £43bn Saudi arms deal. | The High Court has ruled that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) acted unlawfully by dropping a corruption inquiry into a £43bn Saudi arms deal. |
| Defence firm BAE was accused of making illegal payments to Saudi officials to secure contracts, but the firm maintains that it acted lawfully. | Defence firm BAE was accused of making illegal payments to Saudi officials to secure contracts, but the firm maintains that it acted lawfully. |
| The SFO said national security would have been undermined by the inquiry. | The SFO said national security would have been undermined by the inquiry. |
| Two judges allowed the challenge made by Corner House and the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT). | Two judges allowed the challenge made by Corner House and the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT). |
| 'Failure of government' | 'Failure of government' |
| In handing down the decision on Thursday, one of the judges, Lord Justice Moses, told the High Court that the director of the SFO had failed to assure them that everything had been done to meet the rule of law. | In handing down the decision on Thursday, one of the judges, Lord Justice Moses, told the High Court that the director of the SFO had failed to assure them that everything had been done to meet the rule of law. |
| This is a great day for British justice Susan Hawley, Corner House class="" href="/1/hi/business/7341254.stm">Read Frank Gardner's analysis | |
| "No one, whether within this country or outside, is entitled to interfere with the course of our justice," he said. | "No one, whether within this country or outside, is entitled to interfere with the course of our justice," he said. |
| "It is the failure of government and the defendant to bear that essential principle in mind that justifies the intervention of this court." | "It is the failure of government and the defendant to bear that essential principle in mind that justifies the intervention of this court." |
| CAAT had argued that the SFO's decision to drop the probe was illegal under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD's) Anti-Bribery Convention. | CAAT had argued that the SFO's decision to drop the probe was illegal under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD's) Anti-Bribery Convention. |
| "We are delighted," said CAAT's Symon Hill after the decision. | "We are delighted," said CAAT's Symon Hill after the decision. |
| Saudi Arabia is said to have threatened to cancel last year's Eurofighter order | Saudi Arabia is said to have threatened to cancel last year's Eurofighter order |
| "It has been clear from the start that the dropping of the investigation was about neither national security nor jobs. It was due to the influence of BAE and Saudi princes over the UK government." | "It has been clear from the start that the dropping of the investigation was about neither national security nor jobs. It was due to the influence of BAE and Saudi princes over the UK government." |
| Susan Hawley of Corner House said: "This is a great day for British justice. The judges have stood up for the right of independent prosecutors not to be subjected to political pressure." | Susan Hawley of Corner House said: "This is a great day for British justice. The judges have stood up for the right of independent prosecutors not to be subjected to political pressure." |
| Following the judgement, BAE said: "The case was between two campaign groups and the director of the SFO. It concerned the legality of a decision made by the director of the SFO. | Following the judgement, BAE said: "The case was between two campaign groups and the director of the SFO. It concerned the legality of a decision made by the director of the SFO. |
| "BAE Systems played no part in that decision." | "BAE Systems played no part in that decision." |
| For its part, the Serious Fraud Office said it had no further comment, but was "carefully" considering the implications of the judgement. | For its part, the Serious Fraud Office said it had no further comment, but was "carefully" considering the implications of the judgement. |
| 'Damage' | 'Damage' |
| In December 2006, the then Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, announced that the SFO was suspending its inquiry. | In December 2006, the then Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, announced that the SFO was suspending its inquiry. |
| Lord Goldsmith said its continuation would have caused "serious damage" to UK-Saudi relations and, in turn, threatened national security. | Lord Goldsmith said its continuation would have caused "serious damage" to UK-Saudi relations and, in turn, threatened national security. |
| Saudi Arabia is reported to have threatened to cancel last year's deal to buy 72 Eurofighter Typhoon jets from BAE Systems. | Saudi Arabia is reported to have threatened to cancel last year's deal to buy 72 Eurofighter Typhoon jets from BAE Systems. |
| Worth an initial £4.4bn, contracts for maintenance and training are expected to take the final bill to £20bn. | Worth an initial £4.4bn, contracts for maintenance and training are expected to take the final bill to £20bn. |
| BAE argued that the SFO probe could "jeopardise" both this deal and "seriously affect" relations with the Saudi kingdom. | BAE argued that the SFO probe could "jeopardise" both this deal and "seriously affect" relations with the Saudi kingdom. |
| The OECD said last month that it was launching its own investigation into the decision to drop the SFO inquiry. | The OECD said last month that it was launching its own investigation into the decision to drop the SFO inquiry. |
| The judges in London did not rule that the case would be reopened, but have said they would listen to further arguments. | The judges in London did not rule that the case would be reopened, but have said they would listen to further arguments. |
| The SFO's inquiry was into the al-Yamamah deal, which was first signed in 1985 but ran into the 1990s. | The SFO's inquiry was into the al-Yamamah deal, which was first signed in 1985 but ran into the 1990s. |
| Under the agreement, BAE sold Saudi Arabia Tornado and Hawk jets and other assorted weapons. The deal also included long-running maintenance and training contracts. | Under the agreement, BAE sold Saudi Arabia Tornado and Hawk jets and other assorted weapons. The deal also included long-running maintenance and training contracts. |