‘Let’s sweep it under the carpet.’ at the BAE Systems AGM. Photo: Photo courtesy CAAT.
BAE Systems: let off the hook?
Serious Fraud Office deal with BAE Systems criticised by campaigners
by Symon Hill
11th February 2010
The decision of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to drop its pursuit of the arms giant BAE Systems has outraged campaigners. The SFO reached a deal to accept £30 million from BAE and an admission of criminal guilt in relation to accounting irregularities. The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) and the anti-corruption NGO The Corner House said that they were ‘shocked and angered’ by the decision. They argue that the payout is a tiny sum in proportion to BAE’s turnover and that the decision lets BAE ‘off the hook’ by keeping their arms deals out of examination in court.
