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Identities of BAE Systems witnesses among data lost by Serious Fraud Office Identities of BAE Systems witnesses among data lost by Serious Fraud Office
(4 days later)
The identities of prosecution witnesses in a case against the defence company BAE Systems were among thousands of documents lost by the UK's anti-fraud squad, the government has said.The identities of prosecution witnesses in a case against the defence company BAE Systems were among thousands of documents lost by the UK's anti-fraud squad, the government has said.
The sensitive material was found in a storage facility which was also being used as a cannabis farm in east London, according to the shadow attorney general, Emily Thornberry.The sensitive material was found in a storage facility which was also being used as a cannabis farm in east London, according to the shadow attorney general, Emily Thornberry.
She said she was "profoundly shocked" that the confidential details of witnesses had been lost by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).She said she was "profoundly shocked" that the confidential details of witnesses had been lost by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
In a written parliamentary answer to Thornberry, the solicitor general, Oliver Heald, said the witnesses' identities were among the 32,000 documents, 81 audio tapes and electronic media from 59 sources the SFO accidentally sent to the wrong address.In a written parliamentary answer to Thornberry, the solicitor general, Oliver Heald, said the witnesses' identities were among the 32,000 documents, 81 audio tapes and electronic media from 59 sources the SFO accidentally sent to the wrong address.
In a separate answer, he said the SFO has spent more than £10,000 finding the files and investigating their disappearance.In a separate answer, he said the SFO has spent more than £10,000 finding the files and investigating their disappearance.
Officials are in the process of contacting all of those affected and have ensured the same mistake will not happen again, an SFO spokeswoman said.Officials are in the process of contacting all of those affected and have ensured the same mistake will not happen again, an SFO spokeswoman said.
Last month, the SFO said 98% of the material, which was part of its discontinued investigation into allegations concerning BAE Systems' international dealings, had been found.Last month, the SFO said 98% of the material, which was part of its discontinued investigation into allegations concerning BAE Systems' international dealings, had been found.
As part of the process after halting the investigation, one of the suppliers of evidence had asked for it to be returned. The SFO complied with the request but accidentally sent additional files which did not belong to that recipient.As part of the process after halting the investigation, one of the suppliers of evidence had asked for it to be returned. The SFO complied with the request but accidentally sent additional files which did not belong to that recipient.
It said none of the data which had been lost between May and October 2012 related to national security. The loss was identified in May this year.It said none of the data which had been lost between May and October 2012 related to national security. The loss was identified in May this year.
Thornberry said she had been told the documents were found at a storage facility in London's Docklands that was also being used as a cannabis farm.Thornberry said she had been told the documents were found at a storage facility in London's Docklands that was also being used as a cannabis farm.
She said the SFO had been beset with problems for a number of years and blamed the government for cutting the organisation's budget by 27%.She said the SFO had been beset with problems for a number of years and blamed the government for cutting the organisation's budget by 27%.
Thornberry said: "I want the SFO to succeed and this is another dreadful mistake. I understand that they are doing their utmost to make sure something like this never happens again."Thornberry said: "I want the SFO to succeed and this is another dreadful mistake. I understand that they are doing their utmost to make sure something like this never happens again."
The files "ended up being in storage in the east of London in a storage facility that was also being used a cannabis farm," she said.The files "ended up being in storage in the east of London in a storage facility that was also being used a cannabis farm," she said.
"I'm really shocked, I'm profoundly shocked by this, and I am quite sure that members of the public who were giving assistance to the authorities, they certainly never expected their identities to be abused in this way."I'm really shocked, I'm profoundly shocked by this, and I am quite sure that members of the public who were giving assistance to the authorities, they certainly never expected their identities to be abused in this way.
"If [the identities are] found in this paperwork and it ends up in a storage facility which is being used for crime I think it just makes it so much worse. I am almost lost for words.""If [the identities are] found in this paperwork and it ends up in a storage facility which is being used for crime I think it just makes it so much worse. I am almost lost for words."
She added: "The fact of the matter is we get one huge mistake after another" from the SFO. "I don't think it makes life any easier for them also to be subjected to 27% cuts – I point the finger of blame at the government. They are the ones that have made the decision.She added: "The fact of the matter is we get one huge mistake after another" from the SFO. "I don't think it makes life any easier for them also to be subjected to 27% cuts – I point the finger of blame at the government. They are the ones that have made the decision.
"I don't think that makes their functioning any easier. I don't think it makes the new person in charge's job any easier at all. Clearly that doesn't help them.""I don't think that makes their functioning any easier. I don't think it makes the new person in charge's job any easier at all. Clearly that doesn't help them."
The SFO's investigation into BAE began in 2004, prompted by allegations concerning the company's dealings with Saudi Arabia.The SFO's investigation into BAE began in 2004, prompted by allegations concerning the company's dealings with Saudi Arabia.
Eventually it looked into contracts between BAE and other countries including the Czech Republic, Romania and South Africa.Eventually it looked into contracts between BAE and other countries including the Czech Republic, Romania and South Africa.
The Saudi Arabia investigation was discontinued in December 2006 in the interest of national security.The Saudi Arabia investigation was discontinued in December 2006 in the interest of national security.
BAE was also under investigation in the US over contracts with Saudi Arabia, central and eastern Europe, but reached a settlement with the US Department of Justice in February 2010, paying $400m (£255.7m)to the department and pleading guilty to one charge of conspiring to make false statements to the US government.BAE was also under investigation in the US over contracts with Saudi Arabia, central and eastern Europe, but reached a settlement with the US Department of Justice in February 2010, paying $400m (£255.7m)to the department and pleading guilty to one charge of conspiring to make false statements to the US government.
It also agreed a settlement with the SFO in relation to a Tanzania contract.It also agreed a settlement with the SFO in relation to a Tanzania contract.
The FTSE 100 firm was fined £500,000 at Southwark crown court in December 2010 after admitting it had failed to keep adequate accounting records in relation to the defence contract for the supply of an air traffic control system to the government of Tanzania.The FTSE 100 firm was fined £500,000 at Southwark crown court in December 2010 after admitting it had failed to keep adequate accounting records in relation to the defence contract for the supply of an air traffic control system to the government of Tanzania.
An SFO spokeswoman said: "The SFO has been taking this matter very seriously since identifying the loss and is in the process of contacting all the affected parties.An SFO spokeswoman said: "The SFO has been taking this matter very seriously since identifying the loss and is in the process of contacting all the affected parties.
"We have ensured no further material can be wrongly returned to a source in an investigation and are implementing the recommendations from an independent review.""We have ensured no further material can be wrongly returned to a source in an investigation and are implementing the recommendations from an independent review."
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