We are so much alike.

Once more Italians are in the news in connection with India. In 1986 India entered into a $15 billion contract with Swedish firm Bofors to supply 400 155mm howitzer field guns. In 1987 Swedish radio claimed massive kickbacks had been paid to secure the contract and a Joint Parliamentary Committee was set up which took 2 years to report. In 1990 CBI registered a first complaint. In 1991 Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated and a full 2 years later Quattrocchi left India to avoid arrest. Following his trail CBI officers traveled all over the world from Malaysia to Argentina to the millionaire playground, St Kitts. But to no avail. In 2011 after spending billions of rupees in a fruitless but highly enjoyable chase a Delhi Court allowed the CBI to drop the case. No doubt big Q had a fairy godmother in India looking out for him. In April, 2012 the former Swedish Police Chief, Sten Lindstrom said that there was massive cover up in India and Sweden. " The evidence against Ottavio Quattrocchi was conclusive. Through a front company called AE Services, bribes paid by Bofors landed in Quattrocchi's account which he subsequently cleaned out because India said there was no evidence linking him to the Bofors deal." " Under pressure from Swedish and Indian media and with the threat of a cancellation of the contract hanging over them, Bofors sent its top executives to India with the one-point task of giving out the names. Nobody of any consequence received them." On 11 February, Giuseppe Orsi, the head of Finmeccanica was arrested by the Italian police. " He is suspected of involvement in the payment of bribes regarding the sale to the Indian government of 12 helicopters produced by Finmeccanica's subsidiary AugustaWestland," said the Italian news agency, Ansa. In a deal worth a total of Rs 37.60 billion 400,000 Euros were handed over to middlemen in Italy in 2005 to bribe Indian officials. HT, 15 February. Subsequent tranches were sent via Mauritius. IDS India, IDS Tunisia and Aeromatrix based in Chandigarh were used as front companies. An additional amount of Rs 4 billion were paid as bribes of which Rs 2.4 billion went to Tyagis, of whom SP Tyagi was a former Indian Air Force Chief, and Rs 1.6 billion to middlemen, Carlo Gerosa, former CEO of Finmeccanica, and Ralph Hashkhe. When Hashkhe was apprehensive Gerosa told him," Look at the legal process against Berlusconi. ( By the time they catch us ) we may already be dead." Former Italian Prime Minister, Bettino Craxi had to run away to Tunisia to escape jail while Andreotti has been tried many times but always managed to wriggle free. Berlusconi has been sentenced to 1 year in prison but was celebrating Valentine's Day with new girl friend. Our politicians are criminals as are the Italians and their justice system is just as helpful as ours. We are so much alike. Brothers.