'Tamyeer' Supports Acquittal of Former Defense Minister Khaled Al-Jarrah and Others in 'Eurofighter' Case

The Court of Cassation, presided over by Advisor Sultan Al-Bursali, upheld the verdict of the Court of Ministers acquitting former Defense Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah and others of charges related to causing damage to the assets of the Ministry of Defense amounting to 124 million euros, in connection with the training contract for Eurofighter pilots, following the rejection of the Public Prosecution’s appeal.

The Court of Ministers had previously acquitted the defendants of the charges set out in the first axis of the case, which involved allegations of encroachment on public funds and failure to obtain approval from supervisory authorities to sign the memorandum of understanding, as well as issues raised regarding the duplication of pilot training services mentioned in the memorandum and the separate contract for purchasing the aircraft.

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The Public Prosecution attributed to the defendants—former Defense Minister, Chairman of the Armament and Equipment Authority, Chairman of the Eurofighter-Typhoon Fighter Aircraft Committee, and two committee members—that, in their capacity as public officials tasked with safeguarding the interests of the Ministry of Defense in the procurement of fighter jets, they signed a memorandum of understanding with the Italian government, which included providing training services for pilots and ground crews.

According to the charges, the defendants subsequently signed a contract with the Italian company for the purchase of Eurofighter aircraft, which included the same services outlined in the memorandum of understanding. The Prosecution stated that this arrangement imposed financial obligations on the state and caused damage to the Ministry of Defense’s assets equivalent to 124 million euros, while also conferring a benefit on the contracting party.

The Prosecution also attributed to all the defendants, except the fifth defendant, a charge related to concealing data and information concerning the memorandum of understanding signed with the Italian government.

The Prosecution stated that the first defendant did not include such data and information in his response to the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers regarding the dispute between the Court of Audit and the Ministry of Defense over the proposed contract for purchasing Eurofighter aircraft, and that his response concluded with expressing the Ministry’s desire to complete the contracting procedures.

The second, third, and fourth defendants were also accused of failing to address such data and information during the meeting of the Public Services Committee of the Council of Ministers (No. 2016/8), which was dedicated to discussing the proposed contract, as detailed in the investigations.