The Indian Central CBI (Central Boureau of Investigation) reported that AgustaWestland would have given Christian Michel 42,27 millions of euros to pay Indian politicians and officials for the VVIP helicopter order, the Indian online newspaper Timesnownews.com reports.
Christian Michel, the alleged intermediary in the order, was extradited from Dubai to India, after discovering the transfer of money, on several occasions, to some current accounts of banks based in London.
According to the report published by the Times of India, the Indian investigating authority has forwarded an international letter to the British authorities to obtain details on these suspicious transfers.
The Indian investigative authorities also stated that AgustaWestland would have paid 42,27 million euros to bribe Indian politicians and officials from the Ministry of Defense and the Indian Air Force to obtain the contract for 12 VVIP helicopters.
Michel allegedly brought a large amount of "cash" to India and according to some British sources as much money, coming from bribes, was found in the accounts of two of his companies - FPS Global Services and Global Trade and Commerce Service in Dubai.
The CBI had already attempted to extradite Michel in 2017 and 2018 who was in Dubai, free on bail.
A CBI official told the Times of India: "He probably realized that the Indian authorities were following him, so he made several transfers of money into current accounts in the United Kingdom".
According to the CBI, Michel's move to transfer money to London banks would be part of his plan to go out of business in the UAE and move to England.
CBI reports highlighted that Michel allegedly attempted to leave the UAE several times in 2018, but his plans were repeatedly thwarted by Indian intelligence agencies.
Italian investigations
Assessed due to insufficient evidence. The former director of Agusta Westland Bruno Spagnolini and the former CEO Giuseppe Orsi (photos) have been acquitted in appeal process bis for the alleged bribes to the Marshal of the Indian Air Force Sashi Tyagi in exchange for a change to the tender for the supply of 12 Vip helicopters for transportation of government members worth 556 million.
According to the judges of Milan, therefore, it is not possible to condemn the two former managers of the then Finmeccanica (today Leonardo) as international corruption would not be proven. This is the umpteenth twist in this proceeding that has seen a conviction in first instance for false billing (and acquittal for international corruption), condemnation for both crimes in second instance and annulment of convictions by the Supreme Court that has postponed the affair to the Court of Appeal.
The story dates back to the 2008-2010 period when the Cascina Costa company was awarded the contract by the Indian government for the construction of 12 AW101 helicopters. According to the Busto Arsizio Public Prosecutor's Office, that tender was won thanks to the mediation of Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa who, through a series of companies in Tunisia and Mauritius, transited around 50 millions of euros on the accounts of Marshal Tyagi and his brothers for have lowered the flight quota in the announcement and allow the Italian helicopter company to participate and win the race.