UK Defence Ministry Paid £8m to Saudi Firm Linked to Prince Amid £1.6bn Arms Deal Probe
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The UK Ministry of Defence paid £8m to a Saudi firm, Arab Builders for Telecommunications and Security Services (ABTSS), under a contract called Project Arrow signed in 2014. ABTSS was later alleged to be a conduit for secret payments to Saudi officials including Prince Miteb bin Abdullah.
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Project Arrow was signed amid efforts by the MoD to keep on track a £1.6bn deal, called Sangcom, to supply military communications equipment to the Saudis. Sangcom was under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) for earlier alleged bribes to Prince Miteb between 2007-2010.
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Prince Miteb directed the MoD in 2014 to sign Project Arrow with ABTSS, owned by the Fustok family which had long ties to the Saudi royal family. Some MoD officials raised concerns about ABTSS's ties to Miteb.
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Then-Defence Secretary Philip Hammond was briefed about Project Arrow before meeting with Prince Miteb in April 2014. It's unclear what was discussed at the meeting.
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In 2017, Prince Miteb was detained in an "anti-corruption" purge ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The SFO said Project Arrow was a legitimate contract, but critics say the purge targeted royal rivals.