FILE PHOTO: German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon takes-off during the air policing scramble in Amari air base, Estonia, March 2, 2017. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins - File Photo - RC1C1915EAC0
VIENNA (Reuters) - A parliamentary inquiry into Austria's $2 billion (1.47 billion pounds) Eurofighter deal found no indications of bribery or that Airbus and its partners illegally influenced Austrian politicians, according to the final report on the matter. Lawmakers launched their inquiry in March to check whether politicians might have accepted bribes from the makers of Eurofighter to approve the deal. Vienna prosecutors are pursuing a separate investigation into allegations of fraud against Airbus and the Eurofighter consortium based on earlier complaints from the defence ministry, which is seeking up to 1.1 billion euros in compensation.
Airbus and the consortium, which includes Britain's BAE Systems and Italy's Leonardo, rejected the accusations as politically motivated and, on Monday, threatened Austria's defence minister with legal action. Allegations that decision-makers pocketed money for their approval of the Eurofighter deal surfaced almost immediately after the original purchase was agreed in 2003.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
