LibDems' Kennedy slams Pinochet's BAe slush fund $$$$$$$$s

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Serious Fraud Office to look into BAE link with Pinochet

David Leigh and Rob Evans
Friday September 16, 2005
The Guardian

SNIP:

Calls for action were led by the Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy. He said: "These allegations will be deeply embarrassing for BAE, a leading British company with ready access to Downing Street under this and previous governments and a company which receives significant subsidies from the public purse ... The government needs to send a strong message to British companies that corruption and bribery will not be permitted or excused."

SFO investigators are studying the files relating to Red Diamond Trading, a front company controlled by BAE and registered in the British Virgin Islands. It is alleged that the arms company has been using Red Diamond to channel secret commissions worldwide to agents on arms sales, and may have circumvented laws on corruption and money-laundering.

Susan Hawley, of the anti-corruption group The Cornerhouse, said: "This is an absolutely textbook example of how appallingly complicit Britain is in fomenting corruption and undermining democracy around the world."

An Amnesty International spokesman said: "These latest allegations raise worrying issues of business complicity with those who may have been responsible for mass human rights violations ... It is important that BAE Systems fully accounts for its dealings with General Pinochet."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/chile/story/0,13755,1571403,00.html

[D-Notice]

1. To quote

Austin Powers "Yay, capitalism!"