Fraud Office appeals over BAE probe

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The SFO said it will seek leave to appeal the High Court ruling that it "unlawfully submitted" to "blatant threats" from the Saudis.

Earlier this month the court ruled in favour of anti-bribery campaigners who claimed the SFO should have continued its probe into alleged illegal payments to members of the Saudi royal family.

The Government argued the inquiry put anti-terrorism co-operation with the Saudis under threat.

In a statement, the SFO's new director Richard Alderman said it would seek leave to appeal at a hearing on Thursday.

"The judgment of the divisional court raises principles of general public importance affecting, among other things, the independence of prosecutors and the role of the court in reviewing a prosecutor's evaluation of the public interest in a case like this," he said.

The judicial review was brought by anti-bribery campaigners Corner House and Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT). They argued the decision to abandon the probe was tainted by Government concerns about trade with Saudi Arabia and diplomatic considerations.

And in a highly critical judgment, Lord Justice Moses and Mr Justice Sullivan said the Government and the SFO "unlawfully submitted" to threats that there could be "another 7/7" unless the probe was dropped.

BAE's £43 billion Al-Yamamah arms deal with Saudi Arabia in 1985 provided Tornado and Hawk jets plus other military equipment.

The investigation was abandoned in December 2006. At the time, then-PM Tony Blair said the Saudis had privately threatened to cut intelligence co-operation with Britain unless the inquiry was stopped.