We are reviewing, not closing Serious Fraud Office

UK Attorney General, Peter Goldsmith, has said that there is no plan whatsoever to disband operations of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), only that review of its approach is being looked at.

By Guardian Reporter

 
UK Attorney General, Peter Goldsmith, has said that there is no plan whatsoever to disband operations of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), only that review of its approach is being looked at.

 

The SFO is probing the controversial radar sale to Tanzania.

 

He says that the commissioned a review will deal with the SFO�s approach to the investigation and prosecution of cases.

 

The sale of a BAE system to Tanzania is one of the cases currently being investigated by the UK watchdog.

 

`We are shortly to announce the review�s terms of reference, but disbanding or merging the SFO are not options that have been, or are to be, looked at,` says the UK attorney general.

 

According to theguardian UK, which published the story on the alleged move to close down the Serious Fraud Office, the plan to review the SFO comes three months after relations between the UK Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, and SFO director Robert Wardle reached an all time low after the latter`s two year investigation into kickback allegations linked to a BAE systems contract with Saudi Arabia.

 

Goldsmith`s clarification is contained in a letter whose texts the British High Commission in Tanzania sent to The Guardian on Friday through its Political and Press Officer, John Bradshaw.

 

`In fact, the purpose of the review is to strengthen the Serious Fraud Office, not to disband it. The outcome of the review should provide a firm platform from which the SFO can move forward,` reads text of Goldsmith`s letter.

 

The British High Commission issued a clarification on the reports following a news story that was published in this newspaper.

 

However, the statement fell short of explaining how the new approach to investigate and prosecute cases would affect the probe on the sale of a radar system to Tanzania and whether the findings would still come out within the SFO schedule.

 

`I have jointly commissioned a review, with the SFO director, Robert Wardle, into the SFO�s approach to the investigation and prosecution of cases it deals with,` says Goldsmith, adding: `We are shortly to announce the review`s terms of reference, but disbanding or merging the SFO are not options that have been, or are to be, looked at.`

 

Giving details, the UK AG said his good office wants to bear down on fraud. Those committing serious acts of fraud throw up smoke screens.

 

`Our intention is to find ways of getting through those smoke screens more effectively and increase our ability to bring those concerned to justice,` he says.

 

On February 23, this year, international edition of UK theguardian quoted well-placed sources hinting that ministers at Downing Street were considering disbanding the crucial office, with possibilities of merging within the Serious and Organized Crime Agency (SOCA).

 

According to theguardian, the move will be fiercely fought by the SFO director, Mr Wardle.

 

The British High Commission could not give an immediate response on Thursday regarding a concern that the move to disband SFO might affect efforts to enhance good governance in Tanzania. However, the response came a day later.

 

`I am sorry that unfortunately we were not able to communicate this to you yesterday (Thursday). However I hope that the above statement clarifies things – from the horse�s mouth, so to speak,`reads, in part, the message from the high commission�s Political and Press Officer, Bradshaw that was attached to texts of Attorney General�s letter.

 

News on plans to disband the agency came hardly a month after a heated debate in the House of Commons (read texts from the debate in the features section of this paper) concerning the sale of a multi-billion civilian and military air control radar system to Tanzania by the UK�s BAE Systems.

 

The debate followed a motion moved by Andrew Mitchell of the Conservative party in the House, following a peaceful demonstration organized by opposition parties in Tanzania to put pressure on the government of Tanzania to arrest and take legal action against wrong doers in the scandal.

 

SFO is currently investigating claims that BAE Systems bribed some Tanzanian officials and businessmen to help push the deal through, while knowing that the facility involved had used `ageing technology,` not adequate and too expensive.

 

Detectives from the UK, who had visited the country last year, interrogated two businessmen�Sailesh Vithlan and business partner Tanil Somaiya, who admitted that they had received payment for the deal.

 

The radar scandal started way back in 1999, when the government of Tanzania signed a contract with BAE Systems for a combined civilian and military-use radar system.

 

Two years later, a World Bank report was released, which concluded that the system offered poor value for money and was unsuitable for Tanzania�s needs.

 

The World Bank subsequently asked the International Civil Aviation Organisation for a more detailed report and in November 2001, the ICAO report raised concerns about the project and recommended a further report.

 

Source: Guardian