Italian Justice probes into Sonatrach / ENI bribery scandal

With less than 10 days to go before the preliminary hearings at the Italian Court of Milan of the defendants involved in the bribery and corruption scandal SONATRACH/ ENI / SAIPEM, scheduled for next 13 May, the Milan court will decide whether to refer the case to public hearing and debate at a higher court.

The upcoming trial will concern two Algerians namely Farid Bedjaoui Bedjaoui and Samir Ouriad, as well as several Italian personalities, including the former Executive Director of Eni Paolo Sarconi.

The famous Italian lawyer firm “Pizano” will be defending Farid Bedjaoui in the forthcoming trial of those involved in international the bribery and corruption scandal implicating senior executives of Algeria’s Sonatrach and Italy’s energy firm ENI at the Milan court.

Some sources told “Echorouk” that the lawyers’ firm “Pizano”, which is defending Fred Bedjaoui, is among the best-known sollicitors’ firms specialized in corruption and money-laundering and extradition between States and cases of tax evasion and embezzlement.

Italian prosecutors have been conducting a separate investigation into the alleged bribery of Sonatrach officials by services player Saipem, a subsidiary of Italy’s Eni.

Italian prosecutors claim that Saipem paid middlemen $207 million to win about $8.4 billion in contracts with Sonatrach.

Eni and Saipem have denied any wrongdoing.

Last year Eni said a forensic audit it conducted into the allegations did not turn up any wrongdoing.

Eni said the audits revealed no evidence “of illegal or corrupt conducts at Eni nor the existence of intermediary contracts between Eni and the third parties under investigation.”

The scandal has marred efforts by the Algerian government to attract more foreign investment to the country’s energy sector.

Algeria, an OPEC member, received only four bids last year for 31 hydrocarbons fields put up for auction.