Agustawestland distances self from kickback allegations

(ANSA) – Rome, November 1 – AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Italian aerospace and defence contractor Finmeccanica, sought to distance itself from any wrongdoing in an investigation over an alleged kickback scheme on Thursday. The company has been implicated in a 560-million-euro alleged kickback scheme involving the sale in 2010 of 12 helicopters to the Indian government. AgustaWestland never tried to "influence the selection or evaluation process" and its relations with the Indian authorities were strictly "institutional" ones, according to a statement released by the company which it said was a response to Indian press reports on the helicopter sales. Finmeccanica is 30%-owned by the Italian government and controls AgustaWestland.