High Court says dropping of BAE-Saudi corruption probe was unlawful

9.30.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 11th Apr 2008

The High Court today ruled that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) was wrong to drop an investigation into alleged bribery in a massive arms deal between BAE Systems and Saudi Arabia. The decision represents a stunning victory for Campaign Against Arms Trade and Corner House Research, which campaigns against corruption in international trade, as well as a major embarrassment for the Government.

Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat Leader said "This investigation was blocked supposedly to protect our security, but it looks increasingly like it was done to protect BAE sales by appeasing the Saudi Government. There is now a pressing need for a full inquiry into the SFO's decision to end the investigation and what pressure was brought to bear by the Government over that judgment. To stop anything like this ever happening again in future, the Attorney General's role must be fundamentally reformed. It is unsustainable for the Attorney General to preside over major prosecutions while simultaneously sitting in Cabinet as a Prime Ministerial appointee."