TI continues its insistence to re-open bribery case of UK - Saudi Arabia arms deal

Transparency International (TI) supports the ongoing efforts leading up to the meeting of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Working Group on Bribery – starting tomorrow – to urge the re-opening of the Serious Fraud Office's (SFO) investigation of allegations of bribery in the UK-Saudi Arabia Al Yamamah defence contract.

Transparency International added its support to a recent letter signed by a large coalition of civil society organisations, which was sent to the British Prime Minister asking him to re-open the investigation of the Al Yamamah case.

This letter reinforces earlier efforts by TI to keep pressure on the UK to take action. This includes a letter sent by TI to the Secretary General of the OECD to press the organisation to persuade the British government to reinstate the investigation, as well as a press release issued last month by Transparency International’s national chapter in the UK.

Action by the UK government on this issue is essential. Not only does its decision to halt the investigation undermine the progress made on combating foreign bribery through the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, it also threatens the implementation of the more recent United Nations Convention against Corruption, and damages the reputation of the UK as an international anti-corruption champion.