Peter Hain calls for inquiry into MoD’s alleged role in Saudi bribes scandal

Alleged Ministry of Defence complicity in the “national scandal” of bribery on arms deals in Saudi Arabia must be investigated by government auditors, a senior Labour politician has said.

Peter Hain, the antiapartheid campaigner and peer, said in a letter to the National Audit Office (NAO) that a “timely, targeted” investigation was now necessary after the conclusion of a major criminal trial.

In a letter to the head of the NAO, Gareth Jenkins, Lord Hain said the revelations raised “extremely serious questions about the MoD’s alleged involvement in corruption”.

Hain also backed calls from Spotlight on Corruption and Transparency International UK that urged government auditors to immediately review MoD financial practices.

Reams of internal MoD documents detailing previously undisclosed financial arrangements relating to Sangcom and other arms deals were disclosed to the jury during the trial.

Separately the MoD was also shown to have been actively involved in multimillion-pound payments to another Saudi Arabian official, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, as part of the notorious al-Yamamah fighter jet deal.