AFP: OECD pressures Britain over BAE corruption probe (Saudi bribery)

[Eugene]

OECD pressures Britain over BAE corruption probe

Wed Mar 14, 10:09 AM ET

PARIS (AFP) - OECD anti-bribery experts raised pressure on the government
on Wednesday over its decision to scrap a corruption probe into dealings
by defence group BAE Systems with the Saudi Arabian royal family.

The government is to face an inquiry by experts from the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development who have "serious concerns" that
the British government failed to respect an international anti-bribery treaty
it signed in 1997, the OECD said.

Highlighting shortcomings in British legislation and a consistent failure to
prosecute suspects, the OECD said its anti-bribery experts would conduct
"a supplementary review" of British measures to fight corruption.

-snip-

"The ... review will also examine whether systemic problems explain the
lack of foreign bribery cases brought to prosecution as well as other
matters raised in the context of the discontinuance of the BAE Al
Yamamah investigation."

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070314/wl_uk_afp/britaincorruptionprobe_070314140943

[SpiralHawk]

1. "Leave my intimate Saudi cronies alone." - Commander AWOL

"Just because virtually all the plane hijackers on 9/11 were Saudis, and now the Saudis are corrupting England, is no reason to be mean to such sweet guys. I mean, war profiteering for republicon cronies would not be nearly as lucrative without my bosom Saudi pals, the bin Laden clan."

- Commander AWOL

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. This stretches further back than G.W. Bush

Maggie Thatcher's son Mark was one of the beneficiaries of the bribe money sloshing around in the Saudi arms deals. He went from being a failed accountant to a millionaire - with no discernible business skills, but a very recognisable surname in the 1980s.

He left Harrow public school in 1971 with just three O-levels, did not go to university and failed his accountancy exams three times.
...
In 1986 the prime minister faced questions over her son's relationship with the Sultan of Brunei.

She also faced parliamentary questions over his involvement in a contract to build a university in Oman which was revealed by the Observer newspaper in 1984.
...
Questions were also asked in Parliament over claims he received millions of pounds in commission from a 1985 arms sale to Saudi Arabia. Sir Mark denied receiving any money.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3597196.stm