Saudi Prince Bandar Bribery Case Crosses the Atlantic

[babylonsister]

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/06/27/2148/

Saudi Prince Bandar Bribery Case Crosses the Atlantic
by Emad Mekay


WASHINGTON - The U.S. Justice Department is investigating allegations of bribery by the British defense contractor BAE Systems to Prince Bandar Bin Sultan, a high-ranking member of the Saudi royal family with wide contacts and relations here.



The news brings a high-profile investigation initially launched in Britain to the United States, where the political influence of the Saudi royal family is well-known.

Although the British government dropped its own probe last December, citing national security considerations, U.S. prosecutors determined that BAE could be investigated under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act because it used U.S. banks to allegedly transfer payments to accounts controlled by Prince Bandar.

The Justice Department involvement has had immediate ramifications, with the company’s shares losing eight percent of their value Tuesday.

“BAE Systems has been notified by the U.S. Department of Justice that it has commenced a formal investigation relating to the company’s compliance with anti-corruption laws, including the company’s business concerning the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” BAE Systems said in a statement sent to IPS.

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[Blaze Diem]

1. Well hell-a-fu*kin-luia..

K&R
Hope Bush/Cheney are out of office when all this illegal crap is launched against them.
They can pay for their own legal defense.

[AndreaCG]

2. He'll claim diplomatic immunity

Or stay in Saudi Arabia or wherever doesn't have extradition treaties. No biggie.