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India seeks Briton's extradition in AgustaWestland bribe case India seeks Briton's extradition in AgustaWestland bribe case
(4 months later)
India’s government says it has asked Britain to extradite consultant Christian Michel James over a scandal-hit deal to supply AgustaWestland helicopters.India’s government says it has asked Britain to extradite consultant Christian Michel James over a scandal-hit deal to supply AgustaWestland helicopters.
Related: India pulls out of £466m AgustaWestland helicopter deal
India suspended the deal after Italian investigators began looking into accusations AgustaWestland paid bribes to win the contract worth €556m (£430m/$753m) contract for 12 helicopters intended for use by the prime minister and other VIPs.India suspended the deal after Italian investigators began looking into accusations AgustaWestland paid bribes to win the contract worth €556m (£430m/$753m) contract for 12 helicopters intended for use by the prime minister and other VIPs.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has been seeking the custody of James – a Briton who is one of 13 main accused in the case – as a key intermediary who managed political parties and players in Italy and India.The Central Bureau of Investigation has been seeking the custody of James – a Briton who is one of 13 main accused in the case – as a key intermediary who managed political parties and players in Italy and India.
“Yes, government of India has approached the government of the United Kingdom for extradition of Christian Michel to India in connection with the AgustaWestland helicopter scam,” VK Singh, junior foreign minister, told parliament.“Yes, government of India has approached the government of the United Kingdom for extradition of Christian Michel to India in connection with the AgustaWestland helicopter scam,” VK Singh, junior foreign minister, told parliament.
Separately a foreign ministry spokesman, Vikas Swarup, told reporters the request had been made but “we have not had a response from the UK side yet”.Separately a foreign ministry spokesman, Vikas Swarup, told reporters the request had been made but “we have not had a response from the UK side yet”.
The deal has set off a fresh political storm in New Delhi after an Italian court reportedly cited James as alleging India’s opposition leader Sonia Gandhi and others took more than $27m in bribes to swing the deal for the Anglo-British company AgustaWestland.The deal has set off a fresh political storm in New Delhi after an Italian court reportedly cited James as alleging India’s opposition leader Sonia Gandhi and others took more than $27m in bribes to swing the deal for the Anglo-British company AgustaWestland.
In an interview with The Hindu newspaper James, who denies any wrongdoing or implicating Congress leaders in corruption, said documents were forged in his handwriting.In an interview with The Hindu newspaper James, who denies any wrongdoing or implicating Congress leaders in corruption, said documents were forged in his handwriting.
He said he was prepared to be interrogated by Indian authorities but was afraid of being “stuck in India for years”.He said he was prepared to be interrogated by Indian authorities but was afraid of being “stuck in India for years”.
“I think this is the only way to settle this, a direct questioning,” James, who said he was in Dubai, told the newspaper in an interview published on Wednesday.“I think this is the only way to settle this, a direct questioning,” James, who said he was in Dubai, told the newspaper in an interview published on Wednesday.
“Remember this isn’t just about clearing my good name, but India’s good name. Bureaucrats were not involved, politicians were not involved.”“Remember this isn’t just about clearing my good name, but India’s good name. Bureaucrats were not involved, politicians were not involved.”
The Milan appeals court earlier this month sentenced the Italian boss of AgustaWestland’s parent company Finmeccanica, Giuseppe Orsi, to four and a half years in jail for false accounting and corruption.The Milan appeals court earlier this month sentenced the Italian boss of AgustaWestland’s parent company Finmeccanica, Giuseppe Orsi, to four and a half years in jail for false accounting and corruption.
Italian prosecutors suspect kickbacks worth about 10% of the deal were paid to Indian officials in bribes when Gandhi’s Congress party was in power.Italian prosecutors suspect kickbacks worth about 10% of the deal were paid to Indian officials in bribes when Gandhi’s Congress party was in power.
In September a Delhi court issued a warrant for James’s arrest.In September a Delhi court issued a warrant for James’s arrest.
Gandhi and other officials fiercely deny allegations of bribe-taking, which they say are part of a campaign led by the prime minister, Narendra Modi, against their embattled party, which lost power in the 2014 elections.Gandhi and other officials fiercely deny allegations of bribe-taking, which they say are part of a campaign led by the prime minister, Narendra Modi, against their embattled party, which lost power in the 2014 elections.