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Jolie Rouge · 11-27-2006, 01:45 AM

Charges recommended in oil-for-food scam
8 minutes ago

CANBERRA, Australia - An inquiry into multimillion-dollar kickbacks to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein paid by Australia's monopoly wheat exporter on Monday recommended criminal charges against 11 company officials but found no illegal activity by the government.

The final report of the royal commission into payments by the Australian Wheat Board, now known as AWB Ltd., under the U.N.'s corruption-riddled Iraq oil-for-food program was made public Monday when it was formally tabled in Parliament.

In his report, former judge Terence Cole said, "I found no material that is any way suggestive of illegal activity by the Commonwealth or any of its officers." The Commonwealth of Australia is a formal title used for the government.

Prime Minister John Howard ordered the inquiry last year after an investigation by former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker exposed the AWB as the largest source of suspect payments under the oil-for-food program. From 1999-2003, AWB executives authorized $222 million in bogus transport fees to a Jordanian trucking company part-owned by Saddam's government, Volcker found.

Payments to Saddam were illegal under U.N. sanctions imposed on Baghdad after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

Howard, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and former Trade Minister Mark Vaile were called to testify before the government inquiry in April.

All denied having any knowledge that AWB was breaking the U.N. sanctions.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061127/...a_oil_for_food

Australia inquiry says AWB misled UN over Iraq

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia's monopoly wheat exporter AWB Ltd may have breached Australia's Crimes Act over the payment of kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's Iraq, a judicial inquiry found on Monday.

The inquiry by retired judge Terence Cole found charges were possible against 11 managers of AWB, and found the company had misled the United Nation's oil-for-food program over $222 million in payments to Iraq before 2003.

Cole spent 11 months examining whether AWB had broken any Australian laws over the payments, mostly paid as trucking fees through Jordanian company Alia ahead of the 2003 Iraq war.

He found no Australian government minister or official had acted illegally over the payments.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061127/...ralia_awb_dc_1

11-27-2006, 01:45 AM	#68 (permalink)
Jolie Rouge C & P Queen Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Lan astaslem ! Posts: 38,136 iTrader: (2) Thanks: 1,465 Thanked 3,534 Times in 1,949 Posts	Re: Oil-for-food: The United Nations Exposed Charges recommended in oil-for-food scam 8 minutes ago CANBERRA, Australia - An inquiry into multimillion-dollar kickbacks to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein paid by Australia's monopoly wheat exporter on Monday recommended criminal charges against 11 company officials but found no illegal activity by the government. The final report of the royal commission into payments by the Australian Wheat Board, now known as AWB Ltd., under the U.N.'s corruption-riddled Iraq oil-for-food program was made public Monday when it was formally tabled in Parliament. In his report, former judge Terence Cole said, "I found no material that is any way suggestive of illegal activity by the Commonwealth or any of its officers." The Commonwealth of Australia is a formal title used for the government. Prime Minister John Howard ordered the inquiry last year after an investigation by former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker exposed the AWB as the largest source of suspect payments under the oil-for-food program. From 1999-2003, AWB executives authorized $222 million in bogus transport fees to a Jordanian trucking company part-owned by Saddam's government, Volcker found. Payments to Saddam were illegal under U.N. sanctions imposed on Baghdad after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Howard, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and former Trade Minister Mark Vaile were called to testify before the government inquiry in April. All denied having any knowledge that AWB was breaking the U.N. sanctions. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061127/...a_oil_for_food Australia inquiry says AWB misled UN over Iraq CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia's monopoly wheat exporter AWB Ltd may have breached Australia's Crimes Act over the payment of kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's Iraq, a judicial inquiry found on Monday. The inquiry by retired judge Terence Cole found charges were possible against 11 managers of AWB, and found the company had misled the United Nation's oil-for-food program over $222 million in payments to Iraq before 2003. Cole spent 11 months examining whether AWB had broken any Australian laws over the payments, mostly paid as trucking fees through Jordanian company Alia ahead of the 2003 Iraq war. He found no Australian government minister or official had acted illegally over the payments. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061127/...ralia_awb_dc_1 __________________ Laissez les bon temps rouler! Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. a 4 day work week & sex slaves ~ I say Tyt for PRESIDENT!** Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously ....Suki ebaynni IS THAT BETTER ?