Chakib Khelil and former Eni CEO Scaroni cleared of Saipem-Sonatrach bribery trial in Milan

The vexed Saipem-Sonatrach corruption affair will be put again under the Italian Justice’s perusal next Wednesday in Milan with several defendants involved in the case notably three Algerians namely fugitive Farid Bedjaoui and two of his henchmen who are still at large and are now the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by Interpol.

A judge in Milan ordered Italian service firm Saipem to stand trial for suspected bribery practices in connection with Algeria’s hydrocarbon company Sonatrach.

Judicial Sources said that the Italian firm will stand trial for allegedly paying bribes to win lucrative contracts with Sonatrach.Three former top Saipem executives and three intermediaries from Algeria including businessman Farid Bedjaoui who was part of Chakib Khelil’s inner circle as well as Samir Oureid and Omar Habour will also stand trial on charges of tax fraud, money laundering and international corruption. The latter will be tried in absentia as they are still on the run.

Eni, Saipem’s parent company, as well as its former chief Paolo Scaroni and its former head of North Africa were however cleared of wrongdoing. It should noted that Chakib Khelil was also cleared off the Milan trial as he wasn’t even cited during the relevant investigations conducted by the examining magistrates into the case.

Prosecutors surmise that intermediates working for Saipem paid out about $221.55 million, or €197 million, in bribes to win several profit-yielding contracts with   Sonatrach worth about $9 billion.

As a matter of fact, Eni and its former CEO Paolo Scaroni were acquitted of all charges leveled against them earlier this month by Milanese judge Alessandra Clemente after a preliminary hearing on the case involving alleged bribes paid by Saipem in Algeria.

Paolo Scaroni was accused of international corruption and Eni of being in breach of Italy’s 2001 law on corporate responsibility for crimes committed by employees.

Seven defendants and Eni’s subsidiary Saipem SpA, also accused of breaking the same law, were instead ordered to stand trial by judge Clemente.

Their trial will begin on December 2 before the Court of Milan’s fourth penal section. Alongside Scaroni and Eni, the judge also acquitted Antonio Vella, Eni’s former chief for North Africa, while a non-suit based on a lack of jurisdiction was declared for another defendant namely Chakib Khelil, according to the same sources.

Prosecutors are accusing Italy’s firm Saipem of doling out a massive bribe of almost 200 million Euros to several Sonatrach senior executives in order to secure in return hefty contracts while the former Algerian energy and mines minister Chakib Khelil was still in office.