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Ex-Finmeccanica CEO freed from jail pending June trial

The Canadian PressMay 4, 2013 08:30
MILAN - The former CEO of the Italian defence giant Finmeccanica was freed Saturday from jail pending his trial on corruption charges next month. Giuseppe Orsi, who was held for some 80 days in pre-trial detention, faces charges for his alleged involvement in the payment of bribes to secure a 560 million euro ($670 million) deal to sell 12 helicopters to India. A speedy trial for Orsi, who was head of the Agusta helicopter division at the time of the deal, and his Agusta successor Bruno Spagnoli, opens June 19. Spagnoli, meanwhile, was released from house arrest Saturday.

India rejects Finmeccanica denial over chopper bribes

February 27, 2013 10:45
India on Wednesday rejected denials by Italy's Finmeccanica that the company paid bribes to clinch a $748-million contract for 12 British-built helicopters. India in mid-February put payments to the company on hold and asked the Italian firm to reply if any terms of the contract and an "integrity pact" it signed in 2010 had been violated in securing the deal.

India ex-air force chief faces Italian chopper probe

February 25, 2013 12:30
Indian police said Monday they would probe a former Indian air force chief and 10 others over a $748 million contract for 12 Italian helicopters amid charges that the deal was won through kickbacks. A senior police official said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed a "preliminary enquiry" report which also links four companies to the alleged scandal. Former air chief marshal "S.P. Tyagi and his cousins were names mentioned in the report", the official said, without elaborating.

Indian parliament set for stormy budget session

February 20, 2013 18:01
India's unruly parliament will begin its key budget session Thursday with the government appealing to opposition lawmakers to allow it to push forward an economic reform drive. Ahead of the session, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for "a productive and constructive debate", although in previous years opposition MPs have resorted to tactics including shouting and shoving to halt proceedings.

UPDATE 1-"Nothing to hide" in helicopter deal, India's PM says

February 18, 2013 10:45
(adds details from Italian sources, context) By Frank Jack Daniel NEW DELHI, Feb 18 (Reuters) - India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday his government had nothing to hide in a $750 million deal for AgustaWestland helicopters that the defence ministry is threatening to cancel over allegations of kickbacks. The ministry has asked AgustaWestland, owned by Italy's Finmeccanica, to show by Friday that no bribes were paid in the deal or face cancellation of the order.

UPDATE 2-India says seeks to cancel Finmeccanica helicopter deal

February 15, 2013 10:00
* India steps up action against Italian company in bribery case * Ahead of Cameron visit, asks London for answers * Indian police team will travel to Italy to investigate By Manoj Kumar and Frank Jack Daniel NEW DELHI, Feb 15 (Reuters) - India is seeking to cancel a $750 million order for a dozen helicopters from Italian defence group Finmeccanica, the defence ministry said on Friday, responding to growing pressure over kickback allegations.

URGENT ¥¥¥ Italian defence boss resigns over India bribery scandal

February 15, 2013 09:16
The chief executive of Italian defence and aerospace giant Finmeccanica, Giuseppe Orsi, caught up in an international bribes scandal, formally resigned on Friday, according to Ansa news agency. Orsi, who was arrested on Tuesday in a bribery scandal over the sale of 12 helicopters to India, also stepped down as chairman, Ansa quoted his lawyer as saying. ljm/ide/arp

Finmeccanica chopper deal to be scrapped if charges proven: India

February 13, 2013 11:31
NEW DELHI, Feb 13 (Reuters) - India will blacklist Finmeccanica Spa and cancel its deal to buy 12 helicopters from the Italian defence group if allegations of bribery are proven against the company, Defence Ministry A.K. Antony said on Wednesday. Antony said India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had been ordered to investigate the matter and if the allegations were proven, those involved would "pay for their lapses. Nobody will be spared."

India orders probe into Italy defence scandal report

February 12, 2013 09:16
India Tuesday ordered an inquiry into reports of alleged bribery of government officials by Finmeccanica after the Italian aerospace giant's chief was said to have been arrested by Italian police. "A probe by the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) has been ordered and further details will be given soon," Indian defence ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar told AFP.

Italy defence firm chief arrested for India bribes: reports

February 12, 2013 05:01
Italian police on Tuesday arrested the chief executive of aerospace and defence giant Finmeccanica for corruption and embezzlement in relation to alleged bribes given to the Indian government, Italian media reported. Giuseppe Orsi had been under investigation for months and had denied any wrongdoing in the deal for the sale of 12 AgustaWestland helicopters to India in 2010. The magistrate in the case also issued an order for the head of AgustaWestland, Bruno Spagnolini, to be put under house arrest.
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