BAE investigations: status update
Many investigations are continuing into BAE Systems, but several have, or appear to have, halted. Here's a summary of the known investigations.
AUSTRIA
Purchase of Eurofighters
- Austrian authorities investigating
CHILE
Purchases by Pinochet
- UK SFO investigation has disappeared from view
CZECH REPUBLIC
Proposed purchase and then lease of Gripen aircraft
- Austrian authorities investigating
- Czech authorities investigating following UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) request
- Swedish authorities ended their investigation in July 2009 as, whilst "there is strong reason to believe" that bribery occurred, Swedish participation could not be verified
- UK SFO investigating. On 1 October 2009, the SFO announced that it "intends to seek the Attorney General's consent to prosecute BAE Systems for offences relating to overseas corruption... This follows the investigation carried out by the SFO into business activities of BAE Systems in Africa and Eastern Europe."
HUNGARY
Purchase of Gripen aircraft
- Austrian authorities investigating
- Swedish authorities ended their investigation in July 2009 (see Czech Republic)
QATAR
Purchase of ships, aircraft and armoured vehicles
- UK SFO investigation has disappeared from view
ROMANIA
Purchase of frigates
- UK SFO is reported (by Romanian press) to have halted its investigation, although, on 1 October 2009, the SFO announced that it "intends to seek the Attorney General's consent to prosecute BAE Systems for offences relating to overseas corruption... This follows the investigation carried out by the SFO into business activities of BAE Systems in Africa and Eastern Europe."
SAUDI ARABIA
Al Yamamah deal
- Swiss authorities investigating
- UK SFO investigation curtailed following political intervention
- US Department of Justice investigating
SOUTH AFRICA
Purchase of Hawk and Gripen aircraft
- South African authorities investigating but this is reportedly under threat
- Swedish authorities ended their investigation in July 2009 (see Czech Republic)
- UK SFO investigating. On 1 October 2009, the SFO announced that it "intends to seek the Attorney General's consent to prosecute BAE Systems for offences relating to overseas corruption... This follows the investigation carried out by the SFO into business activities of BAE Systems in Africa and Eastern Europe."
TANZANIA
Purchase of radar system
- Tanzanian authorities investigating
- UK SFO investigating. On 1 October 2009, the SFO announced that it "intends to seek the Attorney General's consent to prosecute BAE Systems for offences relating to overseas corruption... This follows the investigation carried out by the SFO into business activities of BAE Systems in Africa and Eastern Europe."
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