SPAS reports FMV for suspected bribery related to sale of Jas Gripen to Thailand
The Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society (SPAS) reports the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to the police for suspected bribery related to the sale of twelve Jas 39 Gripen fighter aircraft to Thailand.
30 September 2015 Blank Spot Project published an article "När diktaturen fick köpa Jasplan" revealing that 37 Thai officers had been offered education at Swedish universities as a part of the Jas Gripen deal. If there is a close connection between the grantees and the military junta it could be a case of bribery according to the National Anti-Corruption Unit and the Anti-Corruption Institute (IMM).
- We know that the international arms trade often is connected with corruption, despite the fact that companies and authorities deny it. The fact that Thai officers have been offered free university education as part of the Jas deal could be a bribe. We believe that this must be investigated, says Anna Ek, SPAS.
In February 2008 FMV signed a contract with the Royal Thai Air Force for the purchase of six Jas Gripen aircrafts and one ERIEYE radar system, and in November 2010 FMV signed another order for six additional aircraft and one additional ERIEYE system.
Swedish authorities have stated that no agreements on offset have been signed related to these transactions. The new information presented in the Blank Spot Project article indicates that the 37 scholarships for Thai officers indeed was a part of the deal. Details about to whom the fellowships were offered to and the beneficiaries relations with the junta remain unclear. The article also revealed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs trough The Swedish Embassy in Bangkok played down the situation regarding human rights abuses in their analyzes to enable the affair.
- Blank Spot Projects story shows why it is so important with transparency and that journalists have access to relevant information regarding arms trade. The fact that documents are classified and that serial numbers has been removed is a direct threat against the democracy. All information related to the sales of Jas 39 Gripen to Thailand must be made available for the public, says Anna Ek, SPAS.