Today the UK Parliament’s International Development Committee releases a report, Financial Crimes and Development. The report calls on the Government of Tanzania to bring individuals to court to answer allegations that corrupt payments were made during the sale of an air traffic control system by BAE Systems.

Commenting on today’s report, Chandu Krishnan, Executive Director of Transparency International UK said:

“This report should be welcomed by all those who are concerned about bribes paid overseas by British companies. Bribery is not a victimless crime and it is important that reparations are also made to the countries whose citizens suffer when bribes are paid.

“The long saga of allegations about corruption involving BAE Systems has been a national embarrassment to both the UK and Tanzania, and it is astonishing that no individual has yet been found guilty despite the company having to pay fines and reparations of $450 million for Tanzania and other cases. We are pleased to hear that the Tanzanian government may prosecute individuals, and hope that the UK authorities will cooperate fully if UK nationals are found to have broken Tanzanian law.  We particularly endorse the suggestion that the Government’s Anti-Corruption Champion should publish annual reports on his work.”