UK defence firm BAE denies existence of £20m slush fund
un | 11.09.2003 16:46 | Anti-militarism | London
A confidential letter from the Serious Fraud Office to the Ministry of Defence highlighted a possible major fraud operation in which leading Saudis were offered enticements to buy arms. (guardian article)
Mr Turner's denial followed a Guardian front page story containing allegations of a £20m slush fund designed to bribe Saudi officials.
The paper said that Sir Richard Evans, the BAE chairman, may have been personally complicit in the operation of the fund.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,1039970,00.html
From the SFO documents and other legal files, the Guardian has been able to put together a picture of a covert BAE operation allegedly stretching over 15 years, claimed to have poured extraordinary amounts of money into the cause of "sweetening" officials in the Saudi regime in London connected to the big Al Yamamah fighter and warships deals.
BAE is even claimed to have paid for a £150,000 house for a young woman, allegedly to please a Saudi royal.
Allegations include the provision of:
• prostitutes
• sports cars
• yachts
• first-class plane tickets
• Mercedes cars with drivers
• unlimited restaurant meals
• cup final tickets
• club memberships
• gambling trips
• TV sets and sound systems
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1039685,00.html
Arms Trade Special
We're selling insurance, not systems for killing people, argues Richard Bush, European business area manager of KVH Industries.
(these fuckers never cease to entertain me with there lies)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/armstrade/0,10674,519643,00.html
The paper said that Sir Richard Evans, the BAE chairman, may have been personally complicit in the operation of the fund.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,1039970,00.html From the SFO documents and other legal files, the Guardian has been able to put together a picture of a covert BAE operation allegedly stretching over 15 years, claimed to have poured extraordinary amounts of money into the cause of "sweetening" officials in the Saudi regime in London connected to the big Al Yamamah fighter and warships deals.
BAE is even claimed to have paid for a £150,000 house for a young woman, allegedly to please a Saudi royal.
Allegations include the provision of:
• prostitutes
• sports cars
• yachts
• first-class plane tickets
• Mercedes cars with drivers
• unlimited restaurant meals
• cup final tickets
• club memberships
• gambling trips
• TV sets and sound systems
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1039685,00.html Arms Trade Special
We're selling insurance, not systems for killing people, argues Richard Bush, European business area manager of KVH Industries.
(these fuckers never cease to entertain me with there lies)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/armstrade/0,10674,519643,00.html
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