Britain's biggest defence manufacturer BAE Systems confirmed to the attorney general that it had provided "support services" to Saudi officials in communication 18 months ago, an account made public under freedom of information laws showed on April 05.
Though the account did not specify what the "support services" were, BAE denied allegations of bribery being investigated by Britain's anti-corruption watchdog, claiming that the services were part of "contractual arrangements."
The investigation and communication related to an arms deal known as Al-Yamamah between BAE and Saudi Arabia in the 1980s, which was being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
It was alleged that BAE had provided a slush fund for members of the Saudi royal family, to encourage them to continue doing business with the company. The inquiry was stopped in December by the British government on the grounds of "national interest", saying that Saudi Arabia had threatened to sever its security links if the probe continued.
The account, published by the Attorney General Lord Peter Goldsmith's office, also describes how lawyers for BAE called on the SFO to abandon its investigation because it would "adversely and seriously affect relations between the UK and Saudi Arabian governments."
BAE's lawyers also claimed that the inquiry "would inevitably prevent the UK securing the next tranche of work under the Al Yamamah programme." They were told, in response, that "it was inappropriate to make such representations" to the attorney general's office, and the claims were passed on to the SFO. According to the Financial Times, BAE declined to comment on the material published by the attorney general's office, and denied any wrongdoing.
The SFO is reportedly examining BAE Systems' dealings in the Czech Republic, Romania, Chile, Qatar, South Africa and Tanzania.
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