Mon, Mar 3, 2014

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/rolls-royce-faces-indian-investigation-into-corruption-bribes-1438633

Rolls-Royce will come under close scrutiny after India's defence ministry confirmed that it has ordered an investigation into the deal the aerospace and defence giant made with state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

According to a statement by India's top crime fighting agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation, authorities will investigate whether Hal's $1.2bn (£717m, €871m) deal, to purchase jet engines from Rolls-Royce, had breached bribery laws.

Prosecutors added that it will look into $80m worth of alleged 'kick-backs,' which is a form of bribery that pays commission to the bribe taker when an agreed service between both parties, had been completed.

Rolls-Royce representatives were not immediately available for comment at the time of publication.

Earlier this month, British police arrested two men in connection to UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) probe into the aerospace and defence giant over allegations of bribery and corruption across a number of emerging markets.

The SFO said in a statement that "in connection with a SFO investigation, we can confirm a number of search warrants have been executed at various properties in London today. Two men were also arrested."

The men were taken to Snow Hill police station in London for questioning.

While the SFO did not confirm which investigation the men were arrested in connection to, several media sources have said that it is related to Rolls-Royce, although both men were not current or former Rolls Royce employees.

Sources say that the City of London police and the National Crime Agency also raided around five residential addresses and one office.

Rolls-Royce revealed in December 2013 that the SFO was investigating the aerospace and defence giant.

According to a statement by Rolls-Royce, the probe centres on possible bribery and corruption in China, Indonesia and other markets from December 2012.

"We have been informed by the SFO that it has now commenced a formal investigation into these matters," said Rolls-Royce at the time.

The SFO has ordered the world's second-largest maker of aircraft engines to conduct an inquiry and hand over details related the bribery and corruption allegations.