The Audio Long Read Very British bribery: the whistleblower who exposed the UK’s dodgy arms deals with Saudi Arabia
Sep 15, 2025
A whistleblower uncovers shocking corruption within the UK arms trade while working in Riyadh. His efforts reveal the moral dilemmas faced when exposing unethical practices tied to military contracts. With an ongoing battle against systemic bribery, the podcast dives into the tangled web of greed and secrecy within government dealings. This gripping tale highlights the personal risks involved in standing up for what is right, sparking a deeper discussion on accountability in an opaque industry.
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Joining SANCOM In Riyadh
- Ian Foxley took a six-month Riyadh job at GPT managing SANCOM expansion and moved his family later.
- He found the role appealing due to military signals experience and prior colleagues' endorsements.
The Patterson Dossier Revelation
- Michael Patterson met Foxley and revealed a dossier suggesting GPT paid Cayman intermediary CIMEC.
- Patterson explained the 16% 'bought-in services' fees were being routed as bribes.
How Bribes Were Concealed
- Arms deals use middlemen to disguise kickbacks as consulting or services.
- Payments are hidden under innocuous labels like "bought-in services" to evade scrutiny.