Witness Statement

The Corner House submitted a 'witness statement' in support of its claim for a judicial review against the UK Government's decision in December 2006 to terminate an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into alleged corruption by BAE Systems in recent Al Yamamah arms contracts with Saudi Arabia. The statement outlines:

• the definition and scale of corruption and bribery in international trade;
• the impact of corruption and bribery on economic investment and trade and investment;
• the nexus between corruption, terrorism and national security;
• the steps being taken by governments, intergovernmental institutions, and financial and business groups to combat corruption;
• the background and purpose of the OECD Anti-bribery Convention;
• the recent history of UK anti-corruption legislation;
• UK government policy on combating corruption and bribery; and
• Saudi Arabia's international obligations in relation to counter-terrorist co- operation.

Campaign Against Arms Trade also submitted a 'witness statement' providing detailed background on:

• the Al-Yamamah arms deals between the UK and Saudi Arabia from the 1980s to 2006; and
• the December 2006 decision to end the Serious Fraud Office investigation into alleged corruption in these deals.

Other legal documents in thisjudicial review.