DEFENCE giant BAE, which has a base in Warton, will face prosecution over bribery allegations, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said today following a long investigation.
The SFO confirmed it is to pursue claims the firm paid out millions of pounds to win contracts from a number of countries.
An SFO statement read: "The Serious Fraud Office has announced today that it intends to seek the Attorney General's consent
to prosecute BAE Systems for offences relating to overseas corruption and will prepare its papers to be submitted to the Attorney when the SFO considers it is ready to proceed."
The latest investigation involves contracts BAE won from countries including Tanzania, the Czech Republic, Romania and South Africa.
The company has denied the allegations.
Despite the SFO's decision to go ahead today, the final decision on whether to proceed would be taken by Attorney General Baroness Scotland.
BAE insisted it had acted "responsibly" in its dealings with the SFO.
A BAE statement said: "The company notes the announcement by the UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and continues to expend considerable effort seeking to resolve, at the earliest opportunity, the historical matters under investigation by the SFO.
"BAE Systems has at all times acted responsibly in its dealings with the SFO, taking into account the interests of its shareholders and employees and the legal advice it has received.
"If the director of the SFO obtains the consent that he seeks from the Attorney General and proceedings are commenced, the company will deal with any issues raised in those proceedings at the appropriate time and, if necessary, in court."
