US Defense Contractor Allegedly Paid Fees to a Saudi Company That Allegedly Served as a Conduit for Bribes

(PatriotPostNews.com) – A major American military contractor made payments to a company that was later accused of facilitating bribes on behalf of the Saudi royal family, according to newly released documents.

Material revealed in a criminal trial in the United Kingdom shared that L3Harris—previously the Harris Corporation, which produces defense technology equipment—was engaged in paying fees to the Arab Builders for Telecommunications and Security Services (ABTSS), which has been scrutinized for handling bribes.

L3Harris reportedly paid commissions to ABTSS for various services in the United Kingdom over the course of 20 years. The Saudi business is operated by a family from Lebanon, the Fustoks, who are known to have close connections with one part of the Saudi royal family. The family and the ABTSS have been accused by British prosecutors of facilitating bribes within a defense deal from 2008 until 2010.

According to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), a United Kingdom government agency that tracks down and prosecutes corruption, the payments made by L3Harris to ABTSS were done for “inducement or reward” in response to contract deals with the Saudi Arabian national guard. Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, a royal who was previously in line for the Saudi Arabian throne, is said to be the main recipient of the funds.

Miteb was also featured in the 2017 through 2019 “anti-corruption” efforts of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The actions of the leader sought to crack down on high-profile Saudis who were actively engaged in corruption schemes and arrested a number of prominent citizens, including princes, government officials, and businessmen.

The L3Harris involvement with ABTSS was revealed during an ongoing trial against GPT Special Project Management, a British company. The business pleaded guilty in 2021 to participating in corrupt transactions made through the ABTSS to Miteb, paying damages of 30 million pounds.

The connection between the Saudi company and the American defense contractor comes days after two individuals charged with bribing Saudi officials were acquitted by a jury that determined they were being unjustly prosecuted for being involved in corrupt payments that had been authorized by both the British and Saudi governments.