From the Press Association:
Ruling due on BAE Saudi decision
10 Apr 2008
The High Court is due to give judgment on the Serious Fraud Office's decision to drop its investigation into alleged bribery and corruption involving arms deals between BAE Systems and Saudi Arabia.
During a recent hearing it was suggested that the law in Britain was "powerless" to resist threats from Saudi Arabia that it would not cooperate in the fight against terrorism unless the probe was dropped.
The bribery allegations against the arms company arose out of BAE's £43 billion Al-Yamamah arms deal with Saudi Arabia in 1985, which provided Tornado and Hawk jets plus other military equipment.
Lawyers for Corner House Research, which campaigns against corruption in international trade, and the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) are asking two judges to quash the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) decision, made in December 2006.
They argued it was tainted by Government concerns about trade with Saudi Arabia and diplomatic considerations after members of the Saudi Arabian royal family threatened to cancel a proposed order for Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft if the investigations continued.
They also accused the British authorities of unlawfully giving in to blackmail and breaking anti-bribery treaties.
They said the then premier Tony Blair had put "irresistible pressure" on the Attorney General and the SFO.
The judges were told that Prince Bandar, the head of the Saudi national security council, and son of the crown prince, was behind the threats to hold back information about potential suicide bombers and terrorists.
Previously secret documents suggested the SFO had decided not to proceed with its inquiries after being told that "British lives on British streets" were at risk, and fears were raised of "another 7/7".
Lord Justice Moses and Mr Justice Sullivan are due to hand down their judgment at the High Court in London.