Military Space News
MILPLEX
Spain court absolves arms firm of graft over Cameroon contracts
Reuters Events SMR and Advanced Reactor 2025
Spain court absolves arms firm of graft over Cameroon contracts
by AFP Staff Writers
Madrid (AFP) Feb 28, 2023

A Spanish court on Tuesday absolved defunct state-owned arms company Defex of graft charges related to contracts to provide material to Cameroon.

Defex was accused of using a complex bribery and embezzlement system to secure the contracts in the Central African country between 2005 and 2013.

Spain's National Court, which deals with major criminal cases, said it found evidence that Defex paid for gifts such as trips and cosmetic surgery to Cameroon officials to secure the contracts.

But it said this happened before Spain's criminal code was reformed in 2015 to extend criminal responsibility to state companies like Defex, so its ruling "must be to absolve".

The court, however, sentenced Defex's former commercial director to a two-year jail sentence for corruption.

Public prosecutors had sought a 23-year jail sentence, but the court absolved him of the charges of forgery, money laundering and embezzlement of public funds.

It said the money which was allegedly embezzled did not belong to Defex, but was from a private bank which financed the projects in Cameroon.

The National Court is investigating two other suspected cases of corruption involving the sale of weapons and military equipment by Defex to the governments of Angola and Saudi Arabia.

Defex was founded in 1972 by the Spanish state to help export products made by the country's defence industry. It was dissolved in 2017 as a result of the scandal.

Related Links
The Military Industrial Complex at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
MILPLEX
CIA chief "confident' China mulling arms for Russia; As Washington ups pressure
Washington (AFP) Feb 26, 2023
The United States is "confident" that China is considering providing lethal equipment to support the Russian forces invading Ukraine, according to CIA director William Burns. Such a step by China would be "a very risky and unwise bet," the intelligence chief said in an interview aired Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation." "I hope very much that they don't." His comments, along with others Sunday by national security adviser Jake Sullivan, constituted the latest blunt US warning to China against ... read more

MILPLEX
Germany to give Slovakia Mantis air defence systems

Advanced manufacturing powering development of Next Generation Interceptor

Kremlin keeps mum on missile systems seen on Moscow rooftops

Netherlands set to boost push for Patriot missile defenses in Ukraine

MILPLEX
Putin says Sarmat nuclear missile to be deployed this year

Japan to buy 400 Tomahawk missiles from US: PM Kishida

Ukrainians pray, ready for strikes one year after Russian invasion

Lockheed Martin gets $1BN contract for sea-based hypersonic strike capability

MILPLEX
Russia in talks with Chinese drone maker on supplies: report

US ends search for downed Chinese balloon debris, other objects

Japan says past aerial objects likely Chinese spy balloons

US still in dark over mystery flying objects, rejects China balloon accusation

MILPLEX
Advanced comms satellite launched from Sichuan

Babcock secures UK Military Skynet satellite contract

Multi aircraft and naval ships showcase interoperability

SES, ThinKom and Hughes enable multi-orbit resilient connectivity for critical airborne missions

MILPLEX
Northrop Grumman's new multifunction sensor designed for rapid production

EU eyes extra 1 bn euros on ammunition for Ukraine

US pledges $2 bn in Ukraine security aid on invasion anniversary

Northrop Grumman to manufacture US Marine Corps next generation handheld targeting system

MILPLEX
Ukraine intel chief sees no signs China plans to arm Russia

UAE spends billions on home-grown arms at defence fair

Spain court absolves arms firm of graft over Cameroon contracts

Indian state-owned firm sold artillery barrels to Myanmar: activists

MILPLEX
What is China's game plan in Ukraine?

Finland gives early greenlight to NATO entry

US-China panel warned of communist 'threat' as protests erupt

Ukraine will join NATO but in 'long-term': Stoltenberg

MILPLEX
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.