Bribes necessary for business: former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi
14 Feb 2013
Coming out in defence of Finmeccanica SpA's jailed ex-chief executive officer Giuseppe Orsi, Italy's three-time former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi today said bribes were a necessary part of doing business globally.
He said in a televised interview that bribes were a phenomenon that existed and it was useless to deny the existence of these necessary situations.
Bloomberg quoted the former premier as saying these were not crimes as these were about paying a commission to some person because these were the rules in the country.
India, in February 2010, had inked the deal for the acquisition of 12 three-engine AW-101 helicopters from AgustaWestland for the elite Communication Squadron of the IAF, which ferried the president, PM and other VVIPs.
The deal came under the scanner of Italian agencies after allegations surfaced of kickbacks given in India.
Orsi was arrested by the agencies on Tuesday as part of their probe related to international corruption. Orsi, who headed the helicopter unit when the deal struck, is alleged to have sanctioned the bribery.
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