The Agusta scandal (French: Affaire Agusta, Dutch: Agustaschandaal), alternatively known as the Agusta–Dassault Case, was a major political scandal which occurred in Belgium during the 1990s, based on allegations that two multinational companies had used bribery to secure large defence procurement contracts. The companies in question, Agusta and Dassault, bribed numerous political office-holders in 1988 in order to secure a large order of Agusta A109 helicopters and the contract for re-fitting Belgian F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets respectively. The scandal came to light during investigations into the death of the socialist politician André Cools in 1991 and an official enquiry was opened in 1993. Numerous senior figures in both Walloon and Flemish socialist parties were implicated, including the incumbent Secretary General of NATOWilly Claes who was forced to resign.
Belgian army Agusta A109 helicopters which were the subject of the scandal
The Agusta scandal was the first of a series of highly publicised scandals in Belgium. It was followed by the revelations about the "Hormone Mafia", the Dioxin affair, and the Dutroux affair.
The investigation into the purchase was started by the investigative team looking into the 1991 assassination of André Cools, a politician of the Francophone Parti Socialiste (PS) and former Deputy Prime Minister, when it turned out that Cools had knowledge about the Agusta deal. An official investigation into the deal was started in January 1993, by judge Véronique Ancia, when a search warrant was issued for Agusta and its lobbyist Georges Cywie.
A criminal trial was handled by the Court of Cassation, which is responsible for cases involving minister in function. The public prosecutor was Eliane Liekendael [nl]. The court had most of its verdicts ready on 23 December 1998. Willy Claes received a three-year probationary sentence and a five-year prohibition on running for public office. Guy Coëme and Guy Spitaels both received three-year probationary sentences with a five-year prohibition on running for public office. Serge Dassault, of the Dassault company, received an 18-month probationary sentence for bribery.
In total, Agusta and Dassault paid more than 160 million francs (about 4 million euros) to the Parti Socialiste and Socialistische Partij in bribes.
The Parti Socialiste had to return 49 million francs in bribes, the Socialistische Partij 111 million francs. Claes, Coëme, Delanghe, Hermanus, Mangé, Puelinckx, Spitaels and Wallyn were also barred from running for political office, or working in the civil service, for five years.
On 2 June 2005, the ECHR judged that in the case of the two ministers, Willy Claes and Guy Coëme, both men were given a lawful trial at the Court of Cassation. The trial of the five others who applied to the ECHR, Dassault, Hermanus, Delanghe, Puelinckx and Wallyn, at the Court of Cassation, was found to have contravened the European Convention on Human Rights, but their verdicts would stand nonetheless.
External links
ECHR judgment (in French)
January 06, 2023
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Not to be confused with 2013 Indian helicopter bribery scandal The Agusta scandal French Affaire Agusta Dutch Agustaschandaal alternatively known as the Agusta Dassault Case was a major political scandal which occurred in Belgium during the 1990s based on allegations that two multinational companies had used bribery to secure large defence procurement contracts The companies in question Agusta and Dassault bribed numerous political office holders in 1988 in order to secure a large order of Agusta A109 helicopters and the contract for re fitting Belgian F 16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets respectively The scandal came to light during investigations into the death of the socialist politician Andre Cools in 1991 and an official enquiry was opened in 1993 Numerous senior figures in both Walloon and Flemish socialist parties were implicated including the incumbent Secretary General of NATO Willy Claes who was forced to resign Belgian army Agusta A109 helicopters which were the subject of the scandal The Agusta scandal was the first of a series of highly publicised scandals in Belgium It was followed by the revelations about the Hormone Mafia the Dioxin affair and the Dutroux affair Contents 1 History 1 1 Investigation and exposure 1 2 Prosecution 2 Verdicts 3 European Court of Human Rights 4 External linksHistory EditInvestigation and exposure Edit The investigation into the purchase was started by the investigative team looking into the 1991 assassination of Andre Cools a politician of the Francophone Parti Socialiste PS and former Deputy Prime Minister when it turned out that Cools had knowledge about the Agusta deal An official investigation into the deal was started in January 1993 by judge Veronique Ancia when a search warrant was issued for Agusta and its lobbyist Georges Cywie In January 1994 the Belgian Senate removed the immunity on the Minister President of Wallonia Guy Spitaels and the minister Guy Mathot fr both from the PS and members of the Walloon Government Guy Coeme Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transportation for the PS resigned that same month Frank Vandenbroucke Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Federal Government for the Flemish Socialistische Partij SP resigned from his post in March 1994 Willy Claes member of the SP and Secretary General of NATO resigned on 20 October 1995 Prosecution Edit A criminal trial was handled by the Court of Cassation which is responsible for cases involving minister in function The public prosecutor was Eliane Liekendael nl The court had most of its verdicts ready on 23 December 1998 Willy Claes received a three year probationary sentence and a five year prohibition on running for public office Guy Coeme and Guy Spitaels both received three year probationary sentences with a five year prohibition on running for public office Serge Dassault of the Dassault company received an 18 month probationary sentence for bribery In total Agusta and Dassault paid more than 160 million francs about 4 million euros to the Parti Socialiste and Socialistische Partij in bribes Verdicts Edit Willy Claes who was forced to resign his position as Secretary General of NATO over the scandal Verdicts of the Court of Cassation Name Function Party Crime Agusta case Crime Dassault case Sentence Fine in Belgian francs Andre Bastien Chief of staff to Coeme PS n a passive corruption forgery 6 months probation 6 000Willy Claes Minister of Foreign Affairs SP passive corruption passive corruption 3 years probation 60 000Guy Coeme Minister of Defense PS n a passive corruption forgery 2 years probation 60 000Serge Dassault Director Dassault Group n a n a active corruption 2 years probation 60 000Johan Delanghe Chief of staff to Claes SP passive corruption passive corruption forgery 18 months probation 60 000Auguste Merry Hermanus fr Chief of staff PS n a passive corruption 1 year s probation 30 000Etienne Mange Treasurer Socialistische Partij SP n a n a 1 year s probation 30 000Jean Louis Mazy Deputy chief of staff to Coeme PS n a passive corruption forgery 6 months probation 6 000Alfons Puelinckx lawyer n a passive corruption forgery passive corruption 2 years incarceration 60 000Francois Pirot Vice Secretary Parti Socialiste PS n a passive corruption 3 months probation 6 000Guy Spitaels Chairman Parti Socialiste PS n a passive corruption 2 years probation 60 000Luc Wallyn Secretary Parti Socialiste PS passive corruption forgery passive corruption 2 years probation 60 000The Parti Socialiste had to return 49 million francs in bribes the Socialistische Partij 111 million francs Claes Coeme Delanghe Hermanus Mange Puelinckx Spitaels and Wallyn were also barred from running for political office or working in the civil service for five years European Court of Human Rights EditAfter the verdicts were handed down many of the convicted parties applied to the European Court of Human Rights ECHR to get the verdicts revoked because the Court of Cassation in Belgium does not allow for an appeal process which would have been in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights On 2 June 2005 the ECHR judged that in the case of the two ministers Willy Claes and Guy Coeme both men were given a lawful trial at the Court of Cassation The trial of the five others who applied to the ECHR Dassault Hermanus Delanghe Puelinckx and Wallyn at the Court of Cassation was found to have contravened the European Convention on Human Rights but their verdicts would stand nonetheless External links EditECHR judgment in French Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Agusta scandal amp oldid 1106904476, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
