Dear friend,
The Attorney General's office has been sitting on corruption charges in relation to arms deals with Saudi Arabia for nearly two years – can you help make sure a prosecution goes ahead?
In 2010 a company called "GPT Special Project Management", a subsidiary of Airbus, agreed a £2 billion deal to supply communications equipment to the Saudi Arabian National Guard (which helps guard the repressive regime against internal dissent).
The same year a whistle-blower fled the country after uncovering evidence that GPT used tens of millions of pounds of illicit payments and gifts to secure the deal. The Serious Fraud Office began investigating the allegations in 2012 and in 2018 it requested a prosecution.
Yet nearly two years on, nothing has happened. No explanation has been given for the delay.
A new Attorney General (the government’s chief legal adviser) was appointed this week – and her approval is necessary for the case to proceed. Can you call on her to ensure the case moves forward?
The UK has a shameful history on arms trade corruption In 2006, BAE escaped the process of justice when Tony Blair, under pressure from Saudi Arabia, quashed another investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into BAE’s multi-billion pound Al Yamamah deals with Saudi Arabia. While the UK government blocked the investigation (despite opposition in the courts from CAAT), the US Department for Justice later sentenced BAE to pay a $400 million criminal fine.
Like the Al Yamamah case, the GPT case concerns another deal brokered by the UK government with Saudi Arabia. Will the government again try to stop prevent justice being done?
Your action now will make it harder for them to sweep this under the carpet too.
Please ask the Attorney General to prioritise the rule of law and the UK's international obligations over the interests of arms companies and the repressive regimes they supply. Take action at caat.org.uk/gpt
Thank you for your support.
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Sarah
Campaign Against Arms Trade