Rome: Giuseppe Orsi, the CEO of state-controlled Italian defence and aerospace giant Finmeccanica, was arrested on Monday in relation to a probe into international corruption. Orsi is suspected of involvement in the payment of bribes regarding the sale to the Indian government of 12 helicopters produced by AgustaWestland, which Finmeccanica controls. Orsi was at the helm of AgustaWestland in 2010 when it won the contract to supply the helicopters. The CEO, who had known he was under investigation over the case for months, denied any wrongdoing before his arrest and said he would only resign his post if asked to do so by the Italian government. Prosecutors suspect around 50 million euros of the over-500-million-euro deal were ploughed back into kickbacks to ensure AgustaWestland won the contract. Police searched Orsi's home and the defence contractor's offices in Milan on Tuesday. AgustaWestland's current CEO Bruno Spagnolini was put under house arrest.
12/02/13 Gazzetta Del Sud
