UK Court Reveals Approval of Millions in Payments to Saudi Officials for Arms Deal

Lawyers representing a former civil servant accused of corruption in the UK have claimed that the British government facilitated millions of pounds in payments to senior Saudi Arabian officials over several decades to secure and maintain lucrative contracts. The former managing director of an Airbus subsidiary, Jeffrey Cook, is accused of paying nearly £9.7 million to middlemen to win contracts with the Saudi Arabian National Guard. Cook's lawyer argued that the payments were made with the knowledge and approval of the UK government, while the prosecution alleges "deep corruption" involving bribes to top Saudi officials. The trial is ongoing.