A former Ministry of Defense official paid nearly £10million in bribes to senior Saudi military officers in exchange for contracts, a court has heard.
Jeffrey Cook, 65, helped funnel the money to Saudi National Guard officials to continue using his company to improve their military communications, it is claimed.
Cook was also managing director of Airbus subsidiary GPT Special Project Management Ltd, which was responsible for the installation and maintenance of communications systems.
He used his position to allow the flow of £4million a year, or 12.3% of GPT’s profits, from his business to contractors, known collectively as Sinec, it is alleged.
Jeffrey Cook, 65, helped funnel the money to Saudi National Guard officials to continue using his company to improve their military communications, it is claimed.
Of this, 70% was then passed on to Saudi officials between 2007 and 2012, Southwark Crown Court heard.
The former civil servant is also accused of misconduct in public office for contracts he made with ME Consultants Ltd while working for the Ministry of Defense between 2004 and 2008.
The total amount paid to Saudi officials between 2007 and 2012 was £9,724,723, prosecutor Mark Heywood, QC, told the court.
Terence Dorothy, who also worked for the MoD, was commissioned in 2006 to write a series of reports on how to improve the communications installation project.
Meanwhile, Cook is said to have received kickbacks from contractors in connection with the reports amounting to tens of thousands of pounds, twice his MoD salary.
Mr Heywood said: “This case is about corruption. Deep corruption in overseas defense contracts.
“Payments by a UK company were made to intermediaries for advice and assistance in carrying out technical work.
“The people behind it could be sure they could keep the lucrative contracts and were able to get bigger ones.”
“More than 70% of the amount charged by intermediaries was sent directly to very high-ranking officials.”
John Mason, 79, was co-owner of GPT and was its accountant. He is also accused of corruption. Above, Mason at Southwark Crown Court today
John Mason, 79, was co-owner of GPT and was its accountant. He is also accused of corruption.
“He was the one who received the money, made the payments and did the accounting work to make sure the intermediaries got their share,” Mr Heywood said.
“Together they ensured the millions kept flowing and influenced customer decisions and Mr Cook and Mr Mason had everything to gain. In a nutshell, this is a case of corruption.
Dorothy, 81, and another man, Peter Austin, were also arrested for bribery but are too ill to stand trial, the court heard.
“Mr Cook was a civil servant, he worked for the Ministry of Defense for years and in that role, according to the prosecution, he took a large cash commission amounting to tens of thousands of pounds,” Mr. Heywood told the jury.
‘All that was for work contracts. He was able to help others.
“You will have to decide whether he received these benefits and whether he conducted himself unlawfully in his public service as an official of the Ministry of Defence.
“The purpose of giving this money was to induce or reward the maintenance of lucrative contracts with the Saudi National Guard.”
Cook, of Dolphin Court, New Quay, Ceredigion, Wales, appeared in court wearing a dark waistcoat with a red and white checked shirt.
He denies one count of corruption and one count of misconduct in public office.
Mason, of Little Ormesby Hall, Ormesby, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, appeared wearing a dark blue suit. He also denies one count of corruption.
The trial continues.
