The Special Prosecutor has commenced investigations into the allegations of bribery against Ghanaian public officials in the controversial Airbus SE deal, stating there is reasonable suspicion of corruption.

European aviation giant, Airbus is alleged to have paid millions of dollars in bribes to some Ghana government officials in the sale of three military aircraft to Ghana in 2011 and 2015.

The UK Crown Court ruled on January 20, 2020 that the purchase of two of the aircrafts were compromised and therefore fined Airbus €3 billion for flouting OECD rules.

The Presidency on February 3 petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate the bribery allegations contained in the judgement and take the necessary action.

A statement issued Monday, February 10 by the Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu said his outfit has determined that there are “reasonable suspicion of the commission of corruption and corruption-related offences of bribery of public officers and the use of public office by public officers for private profit”.

That, he explained, are offences under the mandate of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).

Accordingly, he said preliminary investigation has since been opened into the case and his office has requested both relevant domestic public institutions connected to the issue to assist in the investigations.

“Contacts have also been initiated with the appropriate foreign authorities as provided by law for information and documents to assist the on-going investigation,” he said in the statement.

It has thus appealed to the public not to speculate or politicize “the disclosures made in the deferred prosecution agreements and judgments” so as to allow his Office to treat the suspected crimes as “suspected crimes simpliciter and nothing more, pending the conclusion of the investigation”.