Blair forced Goldsmith to drop BAE charges

[cal04]

The attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, changed his mind about whether there was enough evidence to bring corruption charges against the arms company BAE after pressure from Downing Street, legal sources have told the Guardian.

In emergency meetings before Christmas, Lord Goldsmith initially agreed with lawyers and prosecutors that the Serious Fraud Office could bring charges against the former head of BAE Sir Dick Evans.

The allegations involved backdoor gifts to the then head of the Saudi air force, Prince Turki-bin-Nasser.

Having reviewed the SFO's files, Lord Goldsmith agreed that BAE could, in effect, be offered a plea bargain in which investigators would drop further potentially politically embarrassing inquiries if the company agreed to plead guilty to these relatively minor charges.

But within 48 hours the agreement was countermanded after decisions taken in Downing St, Whitehall sources said.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,,2003234,00.html

[Kagemusha]

1. Goldsmith should force his own butt into retirement

at the shame of his position being treated so shamelessly.

[Greeby]

2. Well d'uh!

:eyes: