Years of bribery investigations into BAE Systems by the Serious Fraud Office were brought to a close today, when the company was fined after pleading guilty to failing to keep proper accounting records in Tanzania. Here is a timeline of investigations of the defence company:
(ADDED BY JOHN DONOVAN: SHELL PLAYED A KEY MONEY LAUNDERING ROLE IN THE BAE CORRUPTION DEAL PRINTED IN RED TEXT)
1985: Britain signs the Al Yamamah arms-for-oil deal with deal with Saudi Arabia, the biggest export contract in UK history. The agreement was government to government, but BAE Systems (then British Aerospace) was the prime contractor because the deal included the sale of 120 Tornado fighter jets, Hawk trainer planes and other defence kit.
1989: The Observer first reports that an investigation is underway into claims huge payments were made to BAE agents as commission, by inflating the sale price of the Tornados in the Al Yamamah deal.
