Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Rubio: 'Very short window', maybe days, for Hamas to accept deal
Al Mayadeen correspondent to southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a raid on the Ksar Zaatar neighborhood in western Nabatieh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City

Saudi firm revealed to be money funneling channel from US to Royals

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Guardian
  • 11 Mar 2024 16:50
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

It is revealed that the main recipient of the payments was Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, who was one of the highest-profile Saudis detained in the Ritz Carlton hotel in Riyadh.

  • x
  • On May 14, 2012, Saudi Arabia's Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, his older brother Saud bin Nayef and Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, during the opening of the GCC, in Riyadh (AP)
    On May 14, 2012, Saudi Arabia's Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, his older brother Saud bin Nayef, and Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, during the opening of the GCC, in Riyadh (AP)

One of the US largest military contractors, Harris Corporation (now L3Harris), was paying commissions to a Saudi company later alleged to have been a channel for bribes for the royal family, The Guardian reported.

A document shown in a UK criminal trial revealed that the Saudi company that received the payments was managed by the Fustoks, a Lebanese family with close ties with one branch of the Saudi royal family for decades.

Fustok family members and their company, Arab Builders for Telecommunications and Security Services (ABTSS), were accused by UK anti-corruption prosecutors of having received bribes between 2008 and 2010 in a defense deal.

The UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO), responsible for corruption prosecution in the UK, stated that ABTSS and another company received the payments “as an inducement or reward” for the contracts by the Saudi Arabian National Guard.

Read more: UK MoD paid millions into Saudi account amid BAE corruption scandal

It was revealed that the main recipient of the payments, as per prosecutors, was Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, who, in 2017, was one of the highest-profile Saudis detained in the Ritz Carlton hotel in Riyadh during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s alleged “anti-corruption” campaign.

After reportedly agreeing to a $1 billion settlement, he was released although it remains unclear what he was actually accused of.

The documents surfaced during a long-running UK criminal prosecution against a British company, GPT Special Project Management, and two individuals. In 2021, GPT pleaded guilty to involvement in the making of corrupt payments to Miteb through ABTSS and others between 2008 and 2010.  

The two unnamed individuals were cleared of wrongdoing by a jury last week after claiming the payments took place with the approval of the British and Saudi governments.

Related News

Trump plans $15 bln defamation lawsuit against New York Times

Appeals Court halts Trump’s bid to oust Fed Governor Lisa Cook

The corruption of Saudi Arabia

Court documents show that back in January 2013, Saudi officials ordered the UK Ministry of Defence to sign a direct contract with Harris worth $93 million.

The money was paid for using Saudi funds held by the MoD for spending on a UK-Saudi defense deal under the name Sangcom.

The UK provided military communications tech and training to the National Guard via Sangcom whose commander was Miteb.

Gary Robson, the company’s sales director in the Middle East, wrote at the time to the MoD to notify it of a “commission that will be payable as a result of Harris entering into the contract."

In the letter provided to the court, Robson said, “Harris has in place a longstanding agency agreement with ABTSS … for representation of Harris within the kingdom,” adding that under the terms, which he said had been effective for 22 years, Harris paid commission “on all Saudi Arabian national guard business concluded by Harris within KSA [the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia]."

Robson stated that standard procedure was for a “contingent fee” on any contract with Miteb’s National Guard to be “required” by ABTSS, yet deductible from Harris profits instead of that included in the contract price,

The commission paid by Harris to ABTSS on the contract would be $14m out of $93m.

Robson continued that Harris would receive a list of “important value-added services” in exchange for the money, including “logistics, key liaison language and cultural guidance and services”, “general managing support,” and “documentation and visa support."

Defense lawyers expressed that payment descriptions between Harris and ABTSS were “suspiciously vague”, but government lawyers argued that Harris provided the MoD with compliance documents, such as a 2013 due diligence review of ABTSS by a law firm.

Although it remains unclear if Harris knew of the connection between ABTSS or the Fustoks and Miteb, the owner Salah Fustok was described in court as Prince Miteb’s “business manager”.  

A company spokesperson told The Guardian, “L3Harris has a robust and long-established compliance programme. We remain committed to the work we performed on behalf of the UK’s Ministry of Defence and the government of Saudi Arabia.”

  • United States
  • L3Harris
  • Miteb bin Abdullah
  • United Kingdom
  • Saudi Arabia

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
President Nicolas Maduro gestures to supporters during the inauguration of a monument in China's honor on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Maduro warns of threats, urges 'battle for truth' to defend Venezuela

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
Politics

Netanyahu informed Trump before deadly attack in Doha: Reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hold a joint press conference at the Prime Minister's Office, during Rubio's visit, in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Monday, September 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu warns of Israeli isolation, calls to boost self-reliance

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide
Politics

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS