Ex-Italian PM, Silvio Berlusconi, has responded to the Finmeccanica SpA CEO’s arrest by voicing that bribes are an essential part of doing business internationally. The three-time former PM participated in an interview on Italian State broadcaster, RAI 3, to react to the Finmeccanica SpA CEO’s arrest on corruption charges. Giuseppe Orsi, the CEO in question, was incarcerated this week as Italian prosecutors investigated a helicopter contract, which Orsi achieved in India in Feb 2010. Allegedly, Giuseppe Orsi, who was heading Finmeccanica’s Agusta Westland helicopter division in Feb 2010, when the India helicopter contract was struck, had given bribes in India to finalise the India-Finmeccanica helicopter deal.
The Italian law enforcement agencies detained Giuseppe Orsi on Tuesday as part of their investigation linked to global corruption. As per Silvio Berlusconi, perpetrating bribery to secure such contracts is not a criminal act. It is merely paying a commission to someone in another nation as such is the rule in that nation. The right-wing former PM of Italy has uttered that such investigations by Italian prosecutors into contracts, which Italian companies sign overseas, are a form of economic suicide.
Silvio Berlusconi has remarked that the danger of magistrates intervening in the Finmeccanica SpA CEO arrest case is going to weaken the prospects of other Italian businesses. Giuseppe Orsi’s arrest has been characterised as pure masochism by the ex-Italian PM. As per Silvio Berlusconi, such corruption investigations will mean that no nation in the future will desire to negotiate with other major Italian companies like oil company, Eni SpA, and power producer, Enel SpA.
Giuseppe Orsi’s lawyer, Ennio Amodio, has assessed the evidences against him as inconsistent. Giuseppe Orsi’s arrest is unjustified, assessed the lawyer. The former Italian PM has voiced that opposition to bribery is an absurd moralism, which will prevent a company from becoming an international entrepreneur.
Around 50 million Euros, nearly 10% of the India helicopter deal, were alleged to have been provided as bribes to ensure that the Italian company, Finmeccanica SpA, won the contract.The jailed CEO has been replaced by Alessandro Pansa. The India helicopter deal involved 12 three-engine AW-101 helicopters for the Indian Air Force’s elite Communication Squadron.
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Silvio Berlusconi has been at the centre of corruption controversies in the past…it is not surprising that he is opposing Giuseppe Orsi’s arrest…