Posted on 02/23/2006 10:33:49 PM PST by HAL9000
The general manager of a shipping company based in the United Arab Emirates has made an extraordinary claim at the oil-for-food inquiry.The executive said the British embassy, US Navy and the Royal Navy were all aware of kickbacks to Saddam Hussein in 2001.
The statement from Michael Wallbanks, the general manager of P&O Nedlloyd only arrived at the commission this morning.
He said that when he arrived in Dubai in 2000, he became aware that Iraq imposed a 10 per cent tax on all goods shipped to the country.
The commission was told that most exporters chose to pay directly to a bank account in Jordan.
Mr Wallbanks said it was well known and widely communicated to anyone involved in shipping goods to Iraq from August 2001.
He said at the time he contacted the British Embassy in Dubai, the US Navy office, and the Royal Navy.
Mr Wallbanks said he recalled they were all aware of the tax and told him he was doing nothing wrong.
They were aware well before 2001, they just chose not to do anything about it. Probably because they knew they weren't going to get assistance from the Security council since several permanent members were the main players.
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