World

Lords overturn Saudi probe ruling

by Dave Keating | July 30, 2008 at 02:38 am

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The House of Lords, the UK's version of a less-powerful US senate, has reversed a high court decision that ruled it was unlawful for the Serious Fraud Office to halt an investigation into a Saudi Arms deal. The investigation was dropped over fears that it would threaten national security, and possibly that it would damage diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. Reports have claimed that Saudi prince Bandar Bin Sultan threatened Tony Blair in order to make him drop the probe.

The House of Lords went as far as to call the decision "courageous."

The special law body of the House of Lords is the highest judicial authority in the UK, akin to the US Supreme Court.

The House of Lords has ruled that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) acted lawfully when it halted its investigation into a Saudi arms deal.

The SFO dropped its inquiry into the £43bn deal with BAE Systems over fears it would threaten national security.

Ministers said that the Saudi government had threatened to withdraw cooperation on security matters.

The High Court had ruled in April that this was unlawful, but the Law Lords have reversed that decision on appeal.

The Law Lords voted 5-0 in favour of the SFO appeal.