Saipem case: bribe-related confidential documents found in bag

A large part of bribes paid by Eni and Saipem’s officials to their counterparts at Algeria’s energy group Sonatrach was in form of assets for Italian banks after passing by a mediation company in Dubai, Hong Kong , secret banking accounts in Switzerland and finally in Italy.

 According to investigators, the money was agreed upon by Eni’s former Financial Director, Sipem’s Engineering Director and a mediator named Farid Bedjaoui.  

They met in a hotel in northern Italy. The bribes were delivered on 7 portions. Investigators reached evidences about those suspicious transactions, Italian newspaper La Stampa reported.

Earlier on December 1st, investigators seized a bag in a train station in Rome. It contained confidential documents relative to the bribes. An Italian wine producing company of which a number of stakes are owned by Bedjaoui. Investigators believe that the ex-wife of the company’s owner is involved in the transaction along with Bedjaoui.

An investigation was opened into confidential banking accounts of Algerian and Italian officials at Eni and Saipem upon an Italian request. Italy’s justice asked French authorities to lead a similar investigations.

Eni’s head Paolo Scaroni said he did not ask Algeria’s former energy minister Chakib Khelil to favor Saipem. “I have never talked to the former energy minister Chakib Khelil neither with any Algerian minister about Saipem’s activities there.”