Al-Yamama Lives: US Fines BAES for Bribes in Saudi and Other Arms Deals……
“WASHINGTON—BAE Systems plc (BAES) pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia to conspiring to defraud the United States by impairing and impeding its lawful functions, to make false statements about its Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) compliance program…... BAES was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge John D. Bates to pay a $400 million criminal fine, one of the largest criminal fines in the history of DOJ’s ongoing effort to combat overseas corruption in international……. In addition, according to court documents, BAES began serving as the prime contractor to the U.K. government in the mid-1980s, after the U.K. and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) entered into a formal understanding. According to court documents, the “support services” that BAES provided according to the formal understanding resulted, in part, in BAES providing substantial benefits to a foreign public official of KSA, who was in a position of influence regarding sales of fighter jets, other defense materials and related support services……. BAES also agreed to transfer more than ©10 million plus more than $9 million to a bank account in Switzerland controlled by an intermediary, being aware that there was a high probability that the intermediary would transfer part of these payments to the same KSA official……………..”
This is the corruption and bribery case that keeps on giving. It never seems to end, and it should not end until justice is done. I shall not say who that famous public official of KSA (Saudi Arabia) is. The Independent mentions Prince Bandar Bin Sultan al-Saud as the recipient of GBP 1 billion kickback. I have noted the name of the famous prince in the past, as has most international media. That was the case that Tony Blair killed in Britain when he prevent the SFO (Serious Fraud Office) from continuing the investigation. Tony is getting paid back for his favors, big time.
Cheers
mhg
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