SLOVENIA

Police probe of Patria deal widens

Police teams from Finland and Slovenia have now been joined by Austrian colleagues in their investigation into possible bribery of Slovenian officials by Finland’s Patria Land & Armament. The unconfirmed bribery allegations are in connection with a €278 million (US$368 million) contract – Slovenia’s largest ever -- awarded to Patria in 2006, for delivery to the Slovenian Army of 135 8x8 wheeled Armoured Modular Vehicles (AMVs). Slovenia’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) suspects that monies arising from the alleged bribery may have been routed through banks in Austria.

      The Finnish Government, meanwhile, has sought clarification from Ljubljana of the status of the Patria contract with Slovenia, under which most of the AMVs are being produced under licence in-country.  This follows remarks by the Slovenian Economics Minister, Matej Lahovnik, that the country may cancel its order for the AMVs due to “technical problems and other associated issues.” He said the Slovenian Government was considering “cancelling the contract with Patria over quality concerns” about the first 13 AMVs in the order.

     Lahovnik is reported to have said that technical tests had highlighted “defects and other quality issues” relating to some of the first AMVs scheduled for delivery. “Due to the defects,” he is reported as saying, “the AMVs did not pass quality tests and they are not [yet] in service with the [Slovenian] Armed Forces.” Patria denies this.