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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.

Indian ex-airforce chief home raided in chopper probe

March 13, 2013 03:30
Detectives raided the home of India's former air force chief on Wednesday as part of an investigation into alleged bribes paid to secure a $748 million contract for 12 Italian helicopters. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) spokeswoman Dharini Mishra said former air chief marshal S.P. Tyagi's home was among more than a dozen addresses targeted in the raids. "He is one of 13 people we have filed an FIR (First Information Report) against," Mishra told AFP. The FIR filed on Wednesday represents the first stage of an official police enquiry.

India vows to change weapons import procedures

March 4, 2013 10:00
India said on Monday it plans to draft new arms procurement procedures in the wake of a corruption scandal involving Italian helicopters -- just two years after the rules were last overhauled. The redrafting could mean fresh delays to India's ambitious programme of arming its million-plus military with latest hardware, experts say. "Within a few months, we are going to change the defence procurement procedure again," Defence Minister A.K. Antony told parliament. The procurement policy was last revised in 2011.

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.

Finmeccanica says acted 'correctly' on India chopper deal

February 19, 2013 11:16
Italian aerospace and defence giant Finmeccanica insisted it had acted "correctly" in a deal to sell India 12 helicopters, amid investigations in Italy and India over alleged bribes paid for the contact. "Finmeccanica highlights that it has acted correctly throughout the 40 years it has operated in India, one of the most strategically important markets for the entire group," the company said.

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.

"Nothing to hide" in helicopter deal, India's prime minister says

February 18, 2013 06:45
By Frank Jack Daniel NEW DELHI, Feb 18 (Reuters) - India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday the government had nothing to hide in a $750 million deal for AgustaWestland helicopters that has been suspended by the Defence Ministry 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 and says it is ready to cancel the purchase outright. The helicopter company says it will comply with the request.

Italy helicopter company in bribe probe says it is clean

February 16, 2013 08:30
AgustaWestland, a unit of Italian aerospace group Finmeccanica, said Saturday that it was complying with India's request for clarifications over a bribery scandal and had fully respected the law. "AgustaWestland is confident that the full compliance with the relevant laws as well as the good conduct of its past and present senior executives and managers will be demonstrated as soon as practicable," it said in a note.
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