BAE chief subpoenaed in US over Saudi arms deal

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) - U.S. officials investigating alleged bribes in a Saudi arms deal subpoenaed the chief executive of BAE Systems , Britain's biggest military contractor, on his arrival in the United States last week, BAE officials said on Sunday.

A subpoena was served on Mike Turner, the CEO, at George Bush International Airport in Houston, Texas, on May 12, said Greg Caires, a BAE spokesman in Washington.

Also subpoenaed was a BAE non-executive director, Sir Nigel Rudd, who was traveling with Turner, Caires said.

A subpoena is a court order to give testimony. The summonses were part of a U.S. Justice Department investigation of bribery charges tied to Britain's biggest arms deal, a series of warplane sales to Saudi Arabia clinched in the mid-1980s and valued at up to $80 billion.


Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7524767

[bluesmail]

1. Poppy Bush has an airport named after him? How fitting.

On Edit: How revealing.

[MidwestTransplant]

2. Even more fitting that it should happen at the airport that is his namesake. Cheney is said to be

involved with this too. Lil Bush can't be too far behind.

[bluesmail]

4. HA!

[bluesmail]

3. Just finished the article, and although BandarInc. made it through

the first hoop and probably relaxed prematurely, as in whew, I wonder did he know this was coming,or was this just for show? It's interesting on a number of levels, which does bring up The Military Industrial Complex, (I'll bet he's seething!) *SPOTLIGHT* There, it's The Military Industrial Complex stealing people's money...

[maddezmom]

5. update: BAE chief detained as US turns up heat in bribes case and more subpoens served

BAE Systems admitted yesterday that American authorities investigating corruption claims over an arms deal with Saudi Arabia had issued a series of subpoenas to senior executives, as the investigation continues to gather pace. Two bosses of the defence giant were also detained after they landed at a Houston airport last week.


BAE released a statement which said: "The Department of Justice last week served a number of additional subpoenas in the US on our employees as part of its ongoing investigation."

The statement added: "The company has been and continues to be in discussion with the Department of Justice concerning the subpoenas served in the course of its investigation."

The chief executive, Mike Turner, and an unnamed senior colleague were held for 20 minutes by US law enforcement agents at George Bush International Airport this week. The pair were served with subpoenas while they were detained at the airport. A further three executives, all based in the US, were served at home. The spokesman said Mr Turner had now returned to Britain, but added that he had not been prevented from entering the US last week. He declinedto comment on the nature of the subpoenas, which could range from requests for information, to orders for a personal appearance in front of a jury to give evidence.

The US DoJ is investigating BAE over alleged corruption charges during the 1980s and 1990s relating to the £43bn al-Yamamah fighter plane deal. BAE denies any wrongdoing.

The Serious Fraud Office in London also launched an investigation into the deal, but it was suspended in December 2006 over fears that it would damage Britain's relations with Saudi Arabia. This has been challenged by a High Court ruling, although the Government is appealing against the decision.

more:http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/bae-chief-detained-as-us-turns-up-heat-in-bribes-case-830639.html