MoD accused over role in (Prince) Bandar's £1bn

[sabra]

Source: The Guardian

Pressure was mounting on ministers for full disclosure of the government's role in Britain's biggest arms deal last night after claims that the Ministry of Defence directly administered payments of more than £1bn to Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia.

The MoD refused to address the specific allegations, made in BBC's Panorama, while the attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, continued to stonewall questions over his role in the affair. BAE, the weapons manufacuturer at the centre of the controversy, remained silent.

Last week, the Guardian revealed how the payments had been made to Prince Bandar with the full knowledge and authorisation of the MoD. However, last night, the BBC went further and accused the MoD of having a much more direct involvement in the transfers of money, which were uncovered by investigators for the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

According to the BBC, MoD officials in Whitehall themselves processed quarterly "invoices" from the Saudi prince, who was seeking payment for "support services" for his role in the al-Yamamah arms deal. The invoices were passed on to BAE executives, who would then wire the latest instalment of cash to accounts at Riggs bank in Washington.


Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/baefiles/story/0,,2100761,00.html

[SharonRB]

1. Serious Fraud Office?

Can we get one of those? It would be busy 24/7.

:rofl:

[acmavm]

2. Old Bandar bush** sure knows how to work all the angles,

doesn't he?

[wordpix]

3. Riggs Bank in DC now involved in arms deal money laundering? THAT should be investigated

No problem, wire transfers in the millions, happens every day at Riggs Bank. Nothing happening here, move on....