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Cables claims of fraud in a BAE Saudi arms deal worth more than $80 billion. - Magda Hassan - 13-03-2011
WikiLeaks cable alleges fraud in arms deal
Published: March. 12, 2011 at 3:12 PM
LONDON, March 12 (UPI) -- A member of Britain's Parliament has called for an investigation amid claims of fraud in a Saudi arms deal worth more than $80 billion.
Britain's Serious Fraud Office dropped an initial investigation in December 2006 following diplomatic pressure from Saudi officials, The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.
However, a cable given to the WikiLeaks Web site and obtained by the Telegraph, written four months after the investigation collapsed, contained serious allegations of fraud.
The cable claimed British company BAE Systems, one of the world's largest military contractors, paid more than $100 million to a Saudi prince who had "influence" over a major defense contract.
The cable also said BAE was being covertly investigated by the SFO for implementing a "potential fraud" against a government department.
"If the information in this document had been before Parliament and the British public, there is no way that the Labor government could have influenced the termination of the agreement," said Menzies Campbell, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats.
"The particular issue which will cause a great deal of annoyance is the fact there was prima facie evidence that a government department had been subjected to fraud," Campbell said. "If prosecution is no longer possible, it is open to the Commons' business innovation and skills committee to conduct a full investigation."
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/03/12/WikiLeaks-cable-alleges-fraud-in-arms-deal/UPI-39071299960758/