Two former Finmeccanica officials arrested in bribery probe in Italy

Rome, 24 March-2014 (IANS):Two former officials of state-controlled Italian defence and aerospace major Finmeccanica and two businessmen were arrested as part of a probe into allegations of bribery, the country’s financial police said Monday.

Two former Finmeccanica officials arrested in bribery probe in Italy

[Forum Boario, Rome, Italy] (LOC)
[Forum Boario, Rome, Italy] (LOC) (Photo credit: The Library of Congress)
Searches were also being conducted following the arrests of Lorenzo Borgogni, former director of external relations for Finmeccanica, and Stefano Carlini, former chief operating officer of subsidiary Selex, ANSA news reported Monday.

Two Rome entrepreneurs, Vincenzo Angeloni and Luigi Malavisi, were also arrested as part of the probe into the defence giant.

Police said they seized 28 bank accounts and two safe boxes and said that former chairman of Finmeccanica, Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, was also under investigation.

Finmeccanica, which is 30-percent state-owned, is a global player in defense and aeronautics.

In January this year, India had canceled a $764-million helicopter contract with a unit of Finmeccanica after accusations that the company used bribes to obtain the deal.

India had ordered 12 helicopters from AgustaWestland – the Anglo-Italian helicopter division of Finmeccanica – in 2010 to use for its leading politicians. While three of the helicopters have already been delivered, India has decided to terminate the order.