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Including:
Asia & Pacific: "Former Taiwan military intel chief jailed for graft"
Europe & Central Asia: "Probe into German-Greek Arms Deals Reveals Murky Side of Defense Sales"
Americas: "Former Guatemalan president faces corruption charges"
Middle East & Africa: "Rwanda: Shot dead: former army chief of staff who accused president of corruption"
Transparency International UK's
Defence Anti-Corruption Digest
Edition 41 / July-August 2010
In the News
Below is a selection of news headlines from around the world from the past months. Please see our disclaimer immediately below the news section.
Asia & Pacific
Australia: Defence tender up in air over leak and corruption claim
Copyright The Daily Telegraph (AU), 22 July 2010
A $90 million tender to charter aircraft to carry troops to the Middle East has been halted by an internal investigation into allegations of corruption and leaks within Defence.
Pakistan: Former military, civil officials taking part in politics: government initiates probe to determine actual volume, source of assets
Copyright Business Recorder, 4 July 2010
The Pakistani government has initiated an investigation to determine the actual volume of the wealth/assets as well as its source of all the retired military officers and bureaucrats, who are taking an active part in politics.
Indian towed-gun deal hits another snag
Copyright United press International Inc., 22 July 2010
India's defense ministry has delayed again the purchase of towed heavy artillery guns worth more than $2.5 billion in the wake of a corruption scandal. The defense ministry acted on recommendations from the Central Bureau of Investigation earlier this month that the military blacklist firms that are allegedly involved in corruption cases.
Afghanistan: For General Petraeus, battling corruption in Afghanistan is a priority
Copyright The Washington Post, 29 July 2010
In his first month on the job, Petraeus has intensified efforts to uncover the scope and mechanics of the pervasive theft, graft and bribery in the Afghan government, examine U.S. contracting practices, and assist Afghan authorities in arresting and convicting corrupt bureaucrats.
Papua journalists on edge after colleague killed
Copyright Radio New Zealand International, 3 August 2010
Journalists in Papua are on edge after a reporter was found dead in a river in the Indonesian region’s south. Australia-based human rights advocate says the journalist had been reporting on financial irregularities and alleged military corruption.
India: widespread corruption in Army's supply chain
Copyright One World South Asia, 4 August 2010
A report of the Comptroller and Auditor General has revealed the widespread corruption in Army's entire supply chain management of rations and existence of cartels. Tabling the draft in the parliament, the audit body has called for a complete overhaul of the existing system and blacklisting of defaulting parties.
Former Sri Lankan armed forces chief convicted by court martial
Copyright BBC, 13 August 2010
A court martial has found the former Sri Lankan armed forces chief, General Sarath Fonseka, guilty of engaging in politics while on active service. He still faces a second court martial on alleged corrupt deals while in the army.
Former Taiwan military intel chief jailed for graft
Copyright MySinchew, 18 August 2010
A former Taiwanese military intelligence chief has been sentenced to 14 years in prison on corruption charges.
Indonesia: Army bribes propel boats to Australia
Copyright: The Australian, August 03, 2010 12:00AM
Corrupt Indonesian immigration officials, police and military have been caught aiding people-smugglers, taking bribes to let boatloads go to Australia.
Former Slovenia PM Took Patria Cash: Report
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 27 Aug 2010
Slovenian prosecutors have filed charges against former prime minister Janez Jansa over alleged bribery in the biggest defence deal signed by Slovenia yet. The charges accused the defendants of "giving or accepting bribery or bribery promises”.
Former Minister Sues Bulgaria in Strasbourg over "Brutal Arrest"
Copyright Sofia news Agency, July 23 2010
Bulgaria’s former Defence Minister Nikolay Tsonev is suing the Bulgarian state over the humiliation that he suffered during his police arrest in April. He was suspected of offering a €60,000 bribe to an official investigating a case against him.
EU commission called upon to go after corrupt defence deals
Copyright: Bloomberg Businessweek, 27 July 2010
MEPs and industry experts are calling on the EU Commission to take firmer action against corruption in military procurement deals. This call to action was in response to the shadiness of the sale of German submarines to Portugal and Greece.
Defence Ministry to spend 700 thousand roubles to study corruption in military schools
Copyright Tatar Inform, 5 August 2010
The Russian Defence Ministry has announced that it aims to spend 700,000 roubles to conduct a study on the level of military corruption. This will be tendered to an external source.
Probe into German-Greek Arms Deals Reveals Murky Side of Defense Sales
Copyright Defense-Aerospace.com, 12 August 2010
Investigations into the German submarine deal with Greece has peeled away another layer of fraudulence. The German firm Ferrostaal, is suspected of paying bribes to politicians through a Greek company in the German submarine deal with Greece. At the same time, prosecutors are trying to determine whether Greece overpaid or agreed to deals for military equipment it did not need.
Revealed: how BAE Systems wined and dined British Ministry of Defence top officials 52 times
Copyright The Guardian, 22 August 2010
An investigation into BAE Systems relationship with the British Ministry of Defence revealed that the firm has regularly wined and dined top military officials in order to win favourable contracts. It was revealed that BAE courted officials 52 times over a three-year period.
Americas
Former Guatemalan president faces coruption charges over defence ministry
Copyright: BBC News, 20 August 2010
Former Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo must stand trial on embezzlement charges, a judge in the country has ruled. He is alleged to have stolen $15m (£9.6m) from the Defence Ministry while he was in power.
As the Presidency of Alvaro Uribe comes to an end, he leaves behind a very different Colombia from when his administration first took power. Yet, his rule has not been without scandal. Two of the most damaging were corruption cases related to the DAS (Colombia’s secret police), and an army scandal known as “false positives”.
US braces for Kandahar fight, anti-corruption battle
Copyright Reuters, 12 Aug 2010
Aside from the military approach, ISAF commander General David Petraeus, insists that anti-corruption efforts are vital to the success of the ISAF mission and to the future of Afghanistan.
Middle East & Africa
Rwanda: Shot dead: former army chief of staff who accused president of corruption
Copyright Africanews.com, 20 June 2010
A former chief of staff of the Rwandan Army has been shot in South Africa when returning from a shopping trip with his wife. Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa had previously accused the Rwandan president of corruption.
Swaziland: Anti-graft team should be disbanded
Copyright The Swazi Observer, 03 August 2010
Members of Parliament in Swaziland have heavily criticised the country's Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) as being inefficient and as failing to properly investigate allegations that corruption has played a role in promotions and recruitment of the security forces.
Iraq provides fertile ground for getting rich quick
Copyright Voice of Russia, 02 August 2010
Commanders of the US military are unable to account for 96 per cent of an overall 9 billion dollars which had been allocated to the restoring post-war Iraq, according to Voice of Russia. The news outlet also includes an analysis from the deputy editor of the Independent Military Review Journal, who points to more cases illustrating the prevalence of corruption.
UAE: Offshoots from arms contracts
Copyright The National, 13 June 2010
Offset arrangements in Abu Dhabi have led to 50 companies being set up and have funneled US$ 2.7bn in FDI into the UAE. Some start-ups were initially intended to pre-qualify foreign companies for offset credit arrangements and have succeeded despite the fact that the actual arms sales never materialised. Yet the overall volume of the offsets programme remains unclear.
Disclaimer
Transparency International UK takes no position on the views presented by reporters, commentators, organisations and companies in the materials listed in this email or linked to in our website. As with any such resource, our purpose is to provide access to a wide selection of materials representing diverse viewpoints on a matter of obvious public interest. We do not exercise any editorial control over the materials and cannot guarantee their accuracy. The Digest is a free publication of Transparency International UK.
Our Work
An overview of our project within the defence sector can be accessed here .
Links
Transparency International UK Defence Against Corruption programme
Transparency International UK
Transparency International
Daily Corruption News
14th International Anti-Corruption Conference
Contact us
2nd Floor Downstream Building 1 London Bridge SE1 9BG London
Map
defence [at] transparency.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7785 6358
Fax: 020 7785 6355
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Including:
Asia & Pacific: "In Afghan graft fight, US sets sights lower in rank"
Europe & Central Asia: "Hungary new defense minister to fight corruption, improve foreign mission safety"
Americas: "Venezuelan ex-Defence Minister Raul Baudel Jailed"
Middle East & Africa: "Former defence minister of Cameroon arrested over corruption"
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Including:
Asia & Pacific: "Four Indian Generals in land scam to be tried by court martial"
Europe:"German company Ferrostaal subject of a bribery probe"
Americas: "US halts aid to tainted Colombian spy agency"
Middle East: "Debate over procurement of French jets in Kuwait"
Africa: "Two defence officials convicted in Sierra Leone"
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Including:
Asia & Pacific: Four military officers indicted for bribery
Europe: Deal to scrap army tanks leads to bribery trial
Americas: US politicians face inquiry into arms deals
Middle East: OECD: Israel must step up fight against international bribery
Africa: Congo army helps rebels get arms, UN finds
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Including:
Asia & Pacific: India's $30 bn defence plan hampered by graft scandal
Europe: Eight suspected in Arms Sales Bribery
Americas: Columbia admits high-level military corruption
Middle East: Former U.S. Army Reserve Major sentenced to 70 months in prison
Africa: Namibian Defense boss fired amid bribe probe
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Including:
Interview: Sung-Goo Kang
Asia & Pacific: Left wants missile deal with Israeli firm cancelled (India)
Europe: Army corruption crimes damages exceed 2 bln rbls in 2008 (Russia)
Americas: Obama to Change Contract Awarding (USA)
Middle East: Inquiry on Graft in Iraq Focuses on U.S. Officers (Iraq)
Africa: Zuma Won’t Face Charges Till After South African Poll (South Africa)
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Including
Asia-Pacific: Inquiry Report In Scorpene Deal Can't Be Made Public: CBI
Europe: Military corruption costs Russia almost $80 million in 2008
Americas: Argentine ex-leader Menem on trial for arms sales
Middle East: Corruption holds back Afghan army expansion
Africa: 'Bribes', BAe – and the billionaire who loves champagne and women
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Including:
Interview: Ambassador Birgitta Nygren
Asia-Pacific: Japan court jails ex-top defence official over bribes
Europe: OECD report attacks British failure to tackle corporate bribery and corruption
Americas: Pentagon Spending Growth Outpaces Auditors
Middle East: We are losing Taliban battle
Africa: Ringera seeks new powers to fight corruption
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Including:
Asia-Pacific: Going out of business
Europe: Britain seen as 'more corrupt' since Blair's decision to halt SFO probe into arms deal with Saudi Arabia
Americas: Ex-president of Guatemala extradited for corruption
Middle East: US says Iran bribes Iraqi lawmakers to oppose pact
Africa: SA court rejects Zuma graft case
Interview: Michael Monts, UTC
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Including...
Asia-Pacific: Bangladesh ex-PM charged over defence deal: state lawyer
Europe: Patria CEO Steps Down Amid Bribery Probe
Americas: US Army major pleads guilty in $5.8 million bribery deal over military bottled water contracts
Middle East: U.S. troops, contractors indicted in Afghan bribery scheme
Africa: MAN Ferrostaal says bribery claims risk scaring off offset partners
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Including...
Asia-Pacific: Taiwan's ex-president rejects defamation charges
Europe: Law lords: fraud office right to end bribery investigation in BAE case
Americas: Secret Arms Deals - An Invitation to Corruption?
Middle East: Corruption could undermine Afghan peace
Africa: Mbeki 'paid R30m arms-deal bribe'
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Including...
Asia-Pacific: Why Eurocopter deal was scrapped
Europe: Trust Fund contributes to good governance
Americas: Guilty Plea Given in Iraq Contract Fraud
Middle East: MacKay seeks to eliminate corruption
Africa: Meremeta, Tangold controversy rages in House
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Including...
Interview: Daniel Santoro, journalist
Asia-Pacific: Malaysia Takes On Corruption
Europe: BAE paid too little heed to ethics, says report
Americas: BAE bosses held in US over corruption allegations
Middle East: Israel 's Barak calls on Olmert to step down to battle corruption allegations
Africa: What will come of new arms deal report?
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Including...
Interview: Andrew Mwenda, Uganda
Asia-Pacific: 'Emperor' admits to bribes (Japan)
Europe: Serious Fraud Office unlawful in ending BAE probe (UK)
Americas: Washington Blocks Exports of Munitions Firm Suspected of Fraud (US)
Middle East: Secret Iraqi Deal Shows Problems in Arms Orders (Iraq)
Africa: UN troops 'armed DR Congo rebels'
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Including...
Interview: Professor Al Najjar, Kuwait
Asia-Pacific: India Probes Barak Purchase Kickback Allegations
Europe: EADS and Airbus executives threatened with insider trading sanctions
Americas: Tough Rules Urged For Contractors
Middle East: 'Standing Up' Iraq Army Looks Open-Ended
Africa: DA Presents German Court File to Back Call for Arms Deal Probe
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Including...
Interview: Francois Vincke, ICC
Asia-Pacific: No Question of Middlemen in Defence Deals: Antony
Europe: Whitehall Revolving Door Under Scrutiny
Americas: US Defence Contract Loss an Election Issue
Middle East: Arms and the Man: Something Rotten at IAI
Africa: Whiff of Rot in Angolan Arms Deal
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Including...
Asia-Pacific: Arms procurement dogged by markups
Europe: Corrupt MoD official can keep £1.5m
Americas: Canada launches probe on arms dealer's dealings with ex-PM
Middle East: Oversight of Iraq contracts is shifted amid Army probes
Africa: Bizarre case of Libyan arms debt: Billions owed by Tripoli to Czech Republic are missing
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Including...
Interview: Mark Pieth interview II
Asia-Pacific: Indian court orders probe into French submarine deal
Europe: Former Georgian minister remains in German detention
Americas: Ex-Peruvian President Fujimori sentenced to 6 yrs in prison
Middle East: Pentagon to boost US personnel in understaffed Iraq weapons sales office by 1,000 percent
Africa: Zuma set to be charged over alleged corruption
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Including...
Interview: Mark Pieth
Asia-Pacific: Ex-defence aide held by Japan's prosecutors
Europe: BAE chiefs face renewed corruption inquiry
Americas: Canadian ex-PM admits mistakes over arms dealer
Middle East: Nonstop Theft and Bribery Stagger Iraq
Africa: Former MP Claims Mbeki Killed BAE Bribery Inquiry
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Including...
Asia-Pacific: Sri Lanka bans private arms deals
Europe: Court to study BAE fraud decision
Americas: Whistleblowers claim contractor fraud ignored
Middle East: Former Kuwaiti Defense Official Jailed For Life
Africa: SA court sanctions bribery inquiry into Zuma
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Including...
Asia & Pacific: Many questions about arms deal
Europe: Labour tries to block new BAE inquiry
Americas: U.S. officer charged in vast Iraqi bribery case
Middle East: Private security firms in Iraq fight parallel war
Africa: From banker to arms gorilla
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Including...
Asia Pacific: Barak deal kickback £7.3m
Europe: Romania Will Sue BAE Systems For Breach Of Contract
Americas: Bush gets bill setting new limits on lobbying
Middle East: Saudi prince criticises monopoly of power at the heart of kingdom
Africa: The looting of Kenya
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Including...
Asia-Pacific: Around 286,000 arrested in Bangladesh since state of emergency declared
Europe: French arms firms say hurt by foreign bribes
Americas: Argentina Court Probes Minister On Arms Sales
Middle East: Audit Office On Iraqi Contracts Probes Bribery Case, Kickbacks
Africa: Kenyan president reappoints graft-riddled politician as minister
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Including...
Asia Pacific: Swiss returns funds to Taiwan in frigate scandal
Europe: Czech Defence Ministry prepares anti-corruption programme
Americas: U.S. Launches Corruption Probe into Britain’s BAE
Middle East: Military leader worries about corruption
Africa: South Africa joins bribery crackdown
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Including...
Interview: Judge Van Ruymbeke
Asia-Pacific: Bangladesh military confronts corruption
Europe:Sweden’s squeaky-clean image sullied by scandals
Americas: FBI probes Nevada governor for corruption
Middle East: Friend of the world's leaders: man at the centre of arms deal
Africa: Nigerian diplomat caught with 2.3 million dollars at Delhi airport
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Including...
Interview : Frank Boland, NATO
Asia Pacific: India-Russia Defense Deals Hit Roadblock; Russia Refuses To Sign Integrity Pact
Europe: Austrian general suspended over questions about fighter jet deal
Americas: More than 100 police officers detained in Mexico
Middle East: Iraq reconstruction 'not working'
Africa: Zuma, Thint May Appeal Mauritius Ruling
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Including...
Interview : Fritz Heimann
Asia Pacific: Involvement of Senior Officers in Corruption
Europe: Trial looms for Mitterrand son on Angola arms sale Americas:
Middle East: 'Ghost soldiers' filling ranks in Iraq, Pentagon report finds
Africa: Arms Deal: De Lille Lays Charges
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Including...
Interview : Edward Hoseah, Prevention of Corruption Bureau Tanzania
Asia Pacific: Opposition demands extradition of Italian businessman in illegal arms deal
Europe: No Joy for Zuma as State Vacillates on Corruption Charge
Americas: Pentagon investigates Blackwater’s expense tab
Middle East: Iraq ousts 10000 in security ministry
Africa: Zuma opposes bid for documents from Mauritius
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Including...
Feature : F & C Investments "Focus on aerospace and defence"
Asia Pacific: Chinese military sets new rules to fight graft
Europe: BAE bosses named as corruption suspects
Americas: Senate approves major overhaul of ethics rules
Middle East: Investigators: Millions in Iraq Aid Wasted
Africa: Arms deal investigators probe BAE payments to South African
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Including...
Asia Pacific: Defence deals to be speeded up: Antony
Europe: City attacks ending of BAE probe
Americas: Pentagon cited for weak oversight of Iraq contractors
Africa: NPA driven by ‘ulterior motives’
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Including..
Interview : Alan Garwood, DESO
Asia Pacific: India charges bad-egg generals over scams
Europe: Judges interview French defence minister over dirty tricks scandal
Americas: Costa Rica’s President Calls for Stricter Controls on Arms Trading
Middle East: Corruption: the second insurgency costing $4billion a year
Africa: Bad news for Shaik – an ominous twist for Zuma
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Including...
Interview: Lord Garden, Interview 2
Asia Pacific: No decision on blacklisting Barak firm
Europe: SFO raids four offices in BAE contracts probe
Americas: American Accused of Taking a Bribe for Work in Iraq
Middle East: CBS: Corrupt Arms Deal Cost Iraq $800 million
Africa: Mbeki: No substance to arms deal rumours
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Including...
Interview : Lord Garden, Interview 1
Asia Pacific: Defence Attache recalled
Europe: Romanian President Suspends Defense Minister
Americas: Haliburton Fraud Lawsuit Details Super Bowl Party
Middle East: "I Was a Propaganda Intern in Iraq"
Africa: Zuma's corruption trial collapses
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Including...
Interview: Ian McNamee Saab
Asia Pacific: China Targets Bribery in Military Spending
Europe: Germany Probes Fairfax Contractor In Iraq
Americas: Pinchet loses legal immunity
Middle East: Former Iraqi Minister arrested for corruption
Africa: Pahad Recalls that He Met French Arms Maker After All
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Including...
Interview : Lord Robertson of Port Ellen
Asia Pacific: Taiwan's Ex-Premier Hau Grilled Over Alleged Role in Frigate Scandal
Europe: Excellent Connections
Americas US Congress to question Pakistan F-16 deal
Middle East: U.S. Officer Reported Ready To Plead Guilty In Bribery Case Involving Iraq Building Contracts
Africa: Government 'In the Clear over Arms Deal'
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Including:
Interview :John Githongo
Asia Pacific: Government issues blacklist of 118 defence suppliers
Europe: Arms boss wrote key letter in France scandal
Americas: Congress bribery probe could deepen
Middle East: Lobbyist Says Client Paid Half of Town House's Cost
Africa: Probe that arms deal
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Including...
Interview :Hennie Van Vuuren ISSAfrica
Asia Pacific:Indian court demands answers on submarine kickback charge
Europe: OECD says companies must reveal records on bribery
Americas:US Contractor Admits Bribery for Jobs in Iraq
Middle East: Contractors in Afghanistan are making big money for bad work
Africa: Kenya’s VP under siege over corruption
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Including..
Feature Story: Bid to end Saudi probe over arms deal threat
Asia Pacific: Agency puts end to amakudari
Europe: BAE ordered to name payment agents
Americas: No. 3 CIA official investigated on ties to Wilkes
Middle East:: Witness protection demanded in Israel for investigation into police corruption
Africa: Interview with John Githongo
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Including...
Interview - Sanjeev Gupta, IMF
Asia Pacific : Japan outspends China militarily but keeps clean
Europe : Corruption case in army is exceptional – Defence Minister Kuehnl
Americas : Venezuelan military officers charged with corruption
Middle East : Halliburton cuts Iraq bill in wake of overcharging claim
Africa : John Githongo releases dossier detailing corruption in Kenya
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Including...
Interview : Steve Shaw
Asia Pacific: Arms Acquisition Office Launched (South Korea)
Europe: French Judges search Thales Headquarters (France)
Americas: Pentagon’s ‘black’ budget ripe for corruption (USA)
Middle East: Sharon hit by another corruption scandal (Israel)
Africa: Government to cancel contract with Denel for procurement of rifles (South Africa)
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