Europe

British MPs launch probe into ‘made-in-UK’ fake bomb detectors

British MPs launch probe into ‘made-in-UK’ fake bomb detectors

British lawmakers are demanding answers from three governmental bodies involved in promoting, supporting and financing fake bomb detectors sold by Gary Bolton, local media reported.
British MPs launch probe into ‘made-in-UK’ fake bomb detectors Bolton, the mastermind behind the fraudulent project, has been sentenced to seven years behind bar for the fraud.

MPs called for a deeper investigation to reveal the extent of the government’s involvement in the international fraud deals after the global fraudster was sentenced at London’s Old Bailey court on Tuesday.

A Home Office scientist declared the so called detectors officially useless and Whitehall issued warnings, but Ministry of Defence, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and government agency ‘UK Trade and Investment’ disregarded the caution.

The government departments used contacts in embassies and setup demonstrations and exhibitions to over a dozen countries; Mexico bought 1,200 of the bogus devices, labeled GT200, for use in their war on drug cartels. The UK’s Royal Engineers demonstrated and pitched sales to the Bahrain Defence Force, Kuwait, Poland, France and Venezuela in 2003-04.

A committee member and Labour Party loyalist, Thomas Docherty, addressed Business Secretary Vince Cable, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, and Foreign Secretary William Hague in a letter saying that “there are serious questions to be answered by a number of government departments and agencies about their role in this sorry scandal”.

The fake bomb detectors were golf ball finders that had a value of less than two-pounds, but were sold for around £15,000 each that made Bolton’s company, Global Technical up to three million pounds a year over 2007-2012. The countries he sold to include Mexico, Thailand, Pakistan, China, India, the Philippines, Singapore, Egypt and Tunisia.

There have been reports of lives lost due to the inadequacy of the equipment for bomb detection and disposal.

“Before we spend taxpayers’ money promoting British-made products we need the confidence of knowing they work,” said the Labour MP. “This sort of thing undoubtedly damages our reputation with foreign governments and they are less likely to buy British again. The government needs to establish how this happened and how we avoid it happening again.”

Back to top button