BMARC inquiries draw blank

Preliminary investigations have found no evidence to support any criminal proceedings against Jonathan Aitken, over allegations of arms exports to Iran by a British armaments company, BMARC, of which he was a non-executive director.

Phillip Oppenheim, the Treasury minister, said last night in a Treasury written answer that Customs' investigation was not yet complete. The result of some overseas inquiries was still awaited. "I can, however, say in the particular circumstances of this investigation, that inquiries to date have not produced any evidence which would support any criminal proceedings against any person, including Mr Aitken, in relation to the exports by BMARC which were alleged to have ended up in Iran." Colin Brown