Publication: Le Figaro Issued: Date: 2005-11-30 Reporter: Eric Decouty Reporter: Reporter:

Thales: Paris Launches an Investigation

 

Publication  Le Figaro
Date 2005-11-30

Reporter

 Eric Decouty

Web Link

www.thestar.co.za

 

About ten international deals won by the defence electronics group are under investigation

An examining Magistrate of the financial department of the Paris prosecuting authority are investigating the affairs of Thales.  The prosecutor of the (French) Republic has in fact decided to open a judicial inquiry for corruption of foreign agents, active and passive corruption, abuse of social services, complicity in bribery and favoritism, aiming at the French electronics group.

Stocks of Chemical Weapons

This decision was the subject of a report sent to the Ministry of Justice, but the general prosecutor Yves Bot, who monitors authority, explained to Le Figaro that it there had not been any difficulties since it had, as early as last July, given such approved.

About ten international contracts signed by the group Thales are under investigation. On the list appear the renovation of the frigates sold to Greece, the security of the Olympic Games for which Thales previously would have provided, as well as the sale of high-end civil technology to Cambodia, Morocco, Latvia and Cameroon. The charges include presumed misappropriations of subsidies of the European Community entrusted to the European Commission and the European Office Against Fraud.

The Thales matter began with the testimony of Michel Josserand, former CEO of Thales Engineering & Consulting (THEC), charged in Nice for corruption in the city tramway project. Transmitted to the Paris investigating authority, these allegations were the subject of a preliminary investigation. The investigators furnished their conclusions some weeks ago. On the basis of their verifications, the prosecutor has therefore decided to launch (further) investigations.

Other than the international deals, the judicial enquiry aims to also investigate the business dealings between Thales and the General Delegation for the Armament (DGA), notably concerning disposal of redundant stock, this being the programme Secoia.  In 2003, the DGA confided in Thec concerning the construction of a factory – on the military premises of Mailly – about the destruction of stocks of chemical weapons from the First World War for an amount of 120 million Euros. 

Dealings with Iraq

The Secoia file could equally cause the judge to examine the eventual relationship between Thales and the regime of Saddam Hussein. This aspect may be included in the framework of the judicial enquiry delimited by the investigating authority because, as Michel Josserand explained during the preliminary investigation to have received indications, but without giving proof, that munitions had been delivered by Thales to the Iraqi Government in violation of the UN embargo.

On enquiries by Le Figaro, the Thales Group refused to provide comment on a judicial matter under enquiry, adding that it would fully cooperate with the judicial processes.

Tell me that this translation done by http://ets.freetranslation.com/ , with a lot of help from yours truly (and I only did one year of Latin in Standard 6), isn't worth 500k ZAR per year until ADS pays me some of its dividends.

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[The French Original]

Affaire Thales : le parquet de Paris ouvre une instruction

CORRUPTION Une dizaine de marchés internationaux remportés par le groupe d'électronique de défense intéressent la justice.

Eric Decouty
[30 novembre 2005]

UN JUGE d'instruction du pôle financier du parquet de Paris va être chargé d'instruire l'affaire Thales. Le procureur de la République a en effet décidé d'ouvrir une information judiciaire pour «corruption d'agent public étranger, corruption active et passive, abus de biens sociaux, complicité et recel, et favoritisme», visant le groupe français d'électronique.

Stocks d'armes chimiques

Cette décision a fait l'objet d'un rapport communiqué à la Chancellerie, mais le procureur général Yves Bot, qui contrôle les actes du parquet, a expliqué au Figaro qu'il n'y avait «pas de difficultés», puisqu'il avait, dès juillet dernier, approuvé une telle démarche.

-- PUBLICITE --

Une dizaine de contrats internationaux signés par le groupe Thales sont visés. Sur la liste figurent entre autres la rénovation des frégates vendues à la Grèce, la sécurité des Jeux olympiques pour laquelle Thales aurait préalablement versé des pots-de-vin, ainsi que des marchés de haute technologie civile avec le Cambodge, le Maroc, la Lettonie ou le Cameroun. Le volet concernant des détournements présumés de subventions de la Communauté européenne a été confié au service de l'inspection de la Commission européenne, l'Office européen de lutte antifraude.

L'affaire Thales a commencé avec les déclarations de Michel Josserand, ancien PDG de Thales Engineering & Consulting (THEC), mis en examen à Nice pour corruption dans l'enquête sur le tramway de la cité azuréenne. Transmises au parquet de Paris, elles ont fait l'objet d'une enquête préliminaire. Les policiers ont rendu leurs conclusions il y a quelques semaines. Sur la base de leurs vérifications, le procureur a donc décidé de lancer des investigations.

Outre le volet marchés internationaux, l'information judiciaire vise les relations entre Thales et la Délégation générale pour l'armement (DGA), notamment la création du Site d'élimination des chargements d'objets identifiés anciens, le programme Secoia. En 2003, la DGA a confié à Thec la construction d'une usine – sur le camp militaire de Mailly (Aube) – destinée à détruire des stocks d'armes chimiques de la Première Guerre mondiale pour un montant de 120 millions d'euros.

Relations avec l'Irak

Le dossier Secoia pourrait également conduire le juge à examiner les éventuelles relations entre Thales et le régime de Saddam Hussein. Si cet aspect n'entre pas dans le cadre de l'information judiciaire délimitée par le parquet, Michel Josserand a expliqué au cours de l'enquête préliminaire avoir reçu des confidences – mais sans apporter de preuve – que des munitions avaient été livrées par Thales au gouvernement irakien», en contravention avec l'embargo de l'ONU.

Sollicité par Le Figaro, le groupe Thales a déclaré «ne pas faire de commentaire sur une affaire judiciaire en cours», ajoutant qu'il entendait «pleinement coopérer avec la justice.


[The Computer -Automated English Translation]

Matter Thales: the Paris floor opens an instruction

About ten CORRUPTION international markets won by the electronics group of defense interest justice. 

Eric Decouty
[November 30 2005]

AN examining MAGISTRATE of the financial world of the Paris floor in charge of instructing the matter Thales.  The prosecutor of the Republic has in fact decided to open a judicial inquiry for «corruption of public agent foreigner, corruption activates and passive, abuses of social goods, complicity and receiving, and favoritism», aiming the French group of electronics. 

Stocks of chemical weapons

This decision was the object of a communicated report to Ministry of justice, but the general prosecutor Club Yves, that checks the acts of the floor, explained to the Figaro that it there had not «any difficulties», since it had, as early as last July, approved such a gait. 

-PUBLICITE -

About ten international contracts signed by the group Thales are aimed.  On the list figure between other the renovation of the sold frigates to Greece, the security of the olympic Games for which Thales previously would have poured jars--wine, as well as markets of high civil technology with Cambodia, Morocco, the Latvia or Cameroon.  The shutter concerning presumed misappropriations of subsidies of the European Community was entrusted to the service of the inspection of the European Commission, the European office of fight antifraude. 

The matter Thales began with the declarations of Michel Josserand, former CEO of Thales Engineering & Consulting (THEC), charged to Nice for corruption in the investigation on the tram of the city azuréenne.  Transmitted to the Paris floor, they were the object of a preliminary investigation.  The policemen returned their conclusions some weeks ago.  On the basis of their verifications, the prosecutor has therefore decided to launch investigations. 

Besides the international walked shutters, the judicial inquiry aims the relations between Thales and the general Delegation for the armament (DGA), notably the creation of the elimination Site of the loads of identified old objects, the program Secoia.  In 2003, the DGA confided in Thec the construction of a factory – on the military camp of Mailly (Dawn) – destined to destroy stocks of chemical weapons of the First World War for an amount of 120 million Euros. 

Relations with the iraq

The file Secoia could equally drive the judge to examine the eventual relations between Thales and the system of Saddam Hussein.  If this aspect does not enter not into the framework of the judicial inquiry delimited by the floor, Michel Josserand explained during the preliminary investigation to have received confidences – but without bringing proof – that of the munitions had been delivered by Thales to the Iraqui government», in parking ticket with the embargo of the Un. 

Solicited by The Figaro, the group Thales declared «not to do commentary on a judicial matter in course», adding that it heard «fully to cooperate with justice».

With acknowledgements to Eric Decouty and Le Figaro.