Let me try and get this right.
British Aerospace is being threatened by the SFO with prosecution in respect of its alleged history of giving government agencies huge lumps of cash in return for favours.
However, the SFO (an arm of government) say that if BAe gives it a huge lump of cash and promises faithfully never ever ever to give government agencies huge lumps of cash in return for favours ever again, the SFO will conveniently forget all about the whole idea of prosecuting them.
No, sorry, I still don't understand....
Clarification: If BAe used to bribe their way into contracts, they deserve to be strung up. Or as close to that as you can for a company. I just happen to think that if the SFO has evidence of that then they should take it to a Court. The idea that one bunch of civil servants can take it upon themselves to be the prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner is frankly offensive. And verging on corrupt.
Yes, a point well made, but prevention is better than cure, didn't you know? That has become the SFO's mantra. This could possibly be because many of the SFO's high profile recent prosecutions have not been successful or cheap. It would be a disgrace if the carpet starts to shows a bulge, but that is the way it is going.
ReplyDeleteOnce bitten, twice shy, P. ;-)
Have the SFO said that?
ReplyDeleteIf they've said that, then I can see their argument. It is, though, the response of the lazy beaurocrat - the proper solution is to sort out their approach to prosecution, not to side-step it.
ReplyDelete"The idea that one bunch of civil servants can take it upon themselves to be the prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner is frankly offensive. "
ReplyDeleteThey've been planning all along to get the ability to do this, without needing all that tedious court stuff...