Britain's Serious Fraud Office is about to begin a second series of interviews under caution with executives from defence group BAE Systems Plc implicated in allegations of corruption, the Sunday Telegraph newspaper said.
Sources close to the investigation said the new push would see BAE staff questioned for the first time on evidence uncovered at the SFO's investigation into allegations of corruption outside Saudi Arabia, the newspaper said.
The investigation was looking at BAE's dealings in Romania, the Czech Republic, Tanzania and South Africa, it said.
Britain's former prime minister Tony Blair halted a probe of a BAE deal with Saudia Arabia by the UK's SFO last December, saying the investigation jeopardised national security and relations with the Gulf kingdom.
The US Department of Justice last week launched its own investigation into BAE concerning the British defence company's compliance with anti-bribery laws, including its dealings with Saudi Arabia.
A BAE spokesman declined to comment on the Sunday Telegraph report. He said the SFO's investigations had been going on for nearly three years and throughout that time the company had co-operated fully, while continuing to reject the allegations. "As part of our cooperation, some employees have assisted the SFO with its enquiries but it is important to note that they have had no charges brought against them," the spokesman said.
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