World | UK
Rights group flays Lords ruling on Saudi deal
Justice says verdict upholding Fraud Office decision to drop BAE probe is disappointing.
- By Dr Abdul Hadi Al Timimi, Abu Dhabi Editor
- Published: 00:02 July 31, 2008
Dubai One of Britain's leading legal and human rights organisation on Wednesday criticised the House of Lords decision to overturn a High Court judgment that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) had acted unlawfully by halting an investigation into possible corruption in a UK-Saudi arms deal.
"The law lords have delivered a disappointingly narrow judgment," Eric Metcalfe, Justice director of human rights policy, said in a press statement. "It's a sad day for the rule of law when a senior prosecutor bows to threats from a foreign government and our most senior judges will do nothing to stop it," he said. Justice and other similar British campaigners had won last April a High Court judgment that the SFO director had acted unlawfully. They sought action after the SFO decided to halt probe into allegations of graft worth billions of dollars over the $70-billion deal.
Share this article
UK
Wanted man sends in replacement photo
Two British ticketholders share £90m jackpot
Mum dies trying to save son from blaze
Meeting the Queen with pen tucked behind ear!
Brown under fire over Afghanistan policies
Politician could get time in prison after admitting expenses scam
Call for scientific advisers to be free from interference
Hitler 'coached' Germany
More from World
News Editor's choice
-
Mohammad launches H1N1 campaign
Shaikh Mohammad was the first one to receive the H1N1 vaccine.
-
Focus on best methods of crime investigation
International conference to also focus on anti-corruption measures
-
Muslims happy to live in the US
Warm welcome awaits visitors of any nationality despite political differences
