SFO drops Saudi 'slush fund' probe
Fraud Office cites 'national and international security', saying it has 'discontinued' the probe
The Serious Fraud Office has decided to drop its investigation into BAE
Systems over the Al-Yamamah deal.
Citing ‘national and international security,’ the fraud-buster said it would
drop its probe.
The probe was said to have focused on slush funds for senior Saudis, and had
caused a diplomatic row, as the Saudi royal family indicated embarrassment over
the deal.
Though the SFO played down any economic considerations, there had been fears
the UK could lose out on lucrative arms deals from the Middle East as a result
of the investigation.
‘This decision has been taken following representations that have been made
both to the attorney general and the director of the SFO concerning the need to
safeguard national and international security,’ the body said.
‘It has been necessary to balance the need to maintain the rule of law
against the wider public interest. No weight has been given to commercial
interests or to the national economic interest.’