Italian justice set to “cleanse” Sonatrach/ENI/Saipem bribery scandal on 12 June

The Italian Court of Milan has set 12 June to convene the first session of the trial of those implicated in the international scandal of bribery and corruption involving Sonatrach-ENI-Saipem related to the misappropriation of over 200 million euros, without reference to the standing charges leveled against former Algerian energy and mines minister Chakib Khalil, while the Milan court rejected a request by the Algerian hydrocarbons company Sonatrach as an “injured party in the case.”

The decision came after the preliminary hearing held yesterday, chaired by Italian judge Alessandra Clemente, who decided to first refer the case to the public debates while the court’s proceedings are slated for on 12 June, to coincide approximately with initiation of the trial of the Sonatrach case  in Algeria by the judicial Court of Algiers on 7 June.

At least another 6 accused are expected to stand trial including Farid Bedjaoui and Samir Ouriad and former Saipem CEO Paulo Scaroni, but without the presence at the trial of former Algerian energy Minister Chakib Khelil despite the fact that the latter is the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by Algerian justice.

The course of the investigation into this major corruption scandal  was launched in February 2011 and lasted for more than 4 years and spanned four continents including Europe, Africa, Asia and America before being finally dealt with by the Court of Milan.

Italian lawyer Valeria Aka, from the renowned Pizano sollicitors’ firm defending Farid Bedjaoui in the same case, told “Echorouk” that this court hearing would be held behind closed doors and not open to the public, noting that it will focus on technical issues and formalities linked to the affair.

She added that this court hearing would take place in the presence of the accused or their legal representatives namely the “lawyers”, during which they will be asked questions by the presiding judge and receive clear-cut answers from the defendants or their lawyers.

It should be noted that Algeria recently vowed to take tough action against any officials at state energy firm Sonatrach found to have accepted bribes from Italian company Eni.

Eni’s chief executive Paolo Scaroni is already under investigation in Italy over alleged bribes paid to win contracts in Algeria for Saipem SpA, a subsidiary of Eni.

That inquiry is into suspected bribes given to Sonatrach, where several top executives including the president were forced to resign two years ago due to the scandal.

In this connection, Algerian Energy Minister Youcef Yousfi vowed to be “inflexible” against those found guilty of corruption within Sonatrach, one of the world’s largest energy companies.

“We fight corruption with more determination. Firm instructions have been given to prosecute anyone who acted against Sonatrach’s interests. We will be inflexible in this matter,” Yousfi told a conference when asked about the probe against Scaroni.

“The judiciary is currently investigating… we will take necessary measures when it finishes its work,” he said.
Italian media reports allege that Scaroni met in Paris with an intermediary from a company based in Hong Kong who handled bribes paid to Algerian officials in order to win contracts for Saipem.

They said that corrupt payments amounted to 200 million euros ($ 268 million) and that a total of eight people were under investigation.

The probe by prosecutors in Milan is an offshoot of a broader inquiry in Algeria over contracts worth hundreds of millions of euros.

The biggest contract in the inquiry was to build the GK3 gas pipeline and was worth $ 580 million (443 million euros). Saipem won the contract in northeast Algeria in 2009, the reports said.
Saipem has defended itself arguing its business activities were compliant with the law.