The Serious Fraud Office's dropping of one of its corruption cases against BAE Systems on government “advice” had led to widespread national and international condemnation, the threat of legal action against the government by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) and Corner House ... and more BAE dirty tricks.
BAE Systems - British Aerospace as was - is Britain's largest armaments manufacturer, and faces accusations of bribery and corruption in connection with a whole string of its overseas arms deals. But the investigation into the largest such deal, with Saudi Arabia, has been scrapped after the government cited a threat to “national security” if the (by any standards corrupt and undemocratic) Saudi authorities got too miffed at the bad publicity and stopped security co-operation with the UK.
But CAAT's attempt to win a judicial review of the dropping of the case has been stymied by traditional BAE dirty tricks which are inhibiting the campaign's pursuit of the case. As PN was going to press, CAAT was involved a private hearing in the High Court trying to win an injunction against BAE and their lawyers - the nature of which can't yet be disclosed - which might enable the main case to go ahead.
But even this preliminary court argument could have severe financial implications for CAAT. BAE are resisting the injunction, and if they succeed, and then claim back their side's costs, there is a risk that Britain's biggest arms dealer will have been able to use its financial muscle to stop the legal challenge to the government before it has even started.