Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, on whose watch India cancelled the scam-tainted AgustaWestland helicopter deal, says that the defence scandal hurt the competitiveness of Italian companies. 
&nbsp; 
"It was a big problem for Italian competitiveness. Italian companies lost a lot from this situation," Letta tells WION in an exclusive interview in New Delhi. 
&nbsp; 
He says that the underlying message in all his contacts with India at the time was that independence of the judiciary has to be respected. 
&nbsp; 
Remember, the AgustaWestland helicopter scam came to light a few weeks before Letta's inauguration as Italy's prime minister but New Delhi cancelled the deal in January 2014 when Letta was the premier. 
&nbsp; 
Letta tells WION that his government adopted a clear and constructive approach with India, especially because he had to deal with the fallout of the "Enrica Lexie" case, too, involving the arrest of two Italian navy personnel who were jailed for the killing of two Indian fishermen. 
&nbsp; 
Further, speaking on Brexit, Letta said, "Brexit is a bad story without a happy end". "I strongly hope that the voters, British Parliament and British people will think again and will reverse this decision," he told WION. "(The Brexit referendum) was a very superficial decision. The only happy end I imagine is a second referendum and the decision to stop Brexit. The second referendum is completion of the first," he added. 
&nbsp; 
He was also critical of European Union’s migration policy. "We need a human rights-friendly migration policy of the EU. I am not proud of the way in which Europe dealt with migration," Letta said. 
&nbsp; 
He also spoke at length on China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which is the greater threat for EU: Russia or China? And US President Donald Trump. “When it comes to trade, Trump is against Europe,” Letta told WION. “Obama or Hillary Clinton would have been better for EU,” he added. 
&nbsp; 
Currently, former prime minister of Italy, Enrico Letta, is the Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) at Sciences Po. 
&nbsp; 
The full interview runs in WION's Global Leadership Series at 21:00 IST on Saturday, December 15, 2018, and repeats at 20:00 IST on Sunday, December 16, 2018.

Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, on whose watch India cancelled the scam-tainted AgustaWestland helicopter deal, says that the defence scandal hurt the competitiveness of Italian companies.

Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, on whose watch India cancelled the scam-tainted AgustaWestland helicopter deal, says that the defence scandal hurt the competitiveness of Italian companies. "It was a big problem for Italian competitiveness. Italian companies lost a lot from this situation," Letta tells WION in an exclusive interview in New Delhi. He says that the underlying message in all his contacts with India at the time was that independence of the judiciary has to be respected. Remember, the AgustaWestland helicopter scam came to light a few weeks before Letta's inauguration as Italy's prime minister but New Delhi cancelled the deal in January 2014 when Letta was the premier. Letta tells WION that his government adopted a clear and constructive approach with India, especially because he had to deal with the fallout of the "Enrica Lexie" case, too, involving the arrest of two Italian navy personnel who were jailed for the killing of two Indian fishermen. Further, speaking on Brexit, Letta said, "Brexit is a bad story without a happy end". "I strongly hope that the voters, British Parliament and British people will think again and will reverse this decision," he told WION. "(The Brexit referendum) was a very superficial decision. The only happy end I imagine is a second referendum and the decision to stop Brexit. The second referendum is completion of the first," he added. He was also critical of European Union’s migration policy. "We need a human rights-friendly migration policy of the EU. I am not proud of the way in which Europe dealt with migration," Letta said. He also spoke at length on China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which is the greater threat for EU: Russia or China? And US President Donald Trump. “When it comes to trade, Trump is against Europe,” Letta told WION. “Obama or Hillary Clinton would have been better for EU,” he added. Currently, former prime minister of Italy, Enrico Letta, is the Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) at Sciences Po. The full interview runs in WION's Global Leadership Series at 21:00 IST on Saturday, December 15, 2018, and repeats at 20:00 IST on Sunday, December 16, 2018.

Global Leadership Series: Former Italy PM on AgustaWestland, Brexit, Trump and more

Christian Michel, a key accused and alleged middleman in the Rs 3600 crore abortive, scandal-tainted AgustaWestland helicopter deal with Anglo-Italian firm Agusta Westland was extradited to India from Dubai late on Tuesday.

What's AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam&nbsp;

The Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VIP helicopter deal, finalised during the previous government of Manmohan Singh, had got mired in allegations of kickbacks.&nbsp;

The 54-year-old Michel is an accused in the case along with some others including former Air Chief SP Tyagi.

CBI`s request for extradition was forwarded to the UAE authorities on March 19, last year through diplomatic channels.Extradition proceedings were held before UAE Court against Christian on the extradition request of CBI. Vide order dated November 19, 2018, the Court of Dubai upheld the lower court decision for possibility of extraditing Christian to Indian authorities. Accordingly, Christian is being extradited to face the legal proceedings.

Who is Christian Michel James?

Michel is a popular British consultant who was allegedly hired by AgustaWestland to influence top-ranking officials in Indian Airforce and the UPA government to help secure the Rs 3,600 crore deal for the company.

According to the Enforcement Directorate charge sheet filed in a court here two years back, Michel had received kickbacks to the tune of 30 million Euros from AgustaWestland for the deal involving a purchase of 12 VIP helicopters. The deal, signed in 2007, was scrapped in 2013 following the bribery allegations.CBI had filed charge sheet in a trial court on September 1, 2017 against Christian and 11 other accused persons. The trial court took cognizance of the offences on October 11, 2017.

CBI's charges

According to the CBI, Wolfgang Max Richard Michel, father of Christian, was also a consultant of AgustaWestland, the United Kingdom for the Indian territory in 1980s had reportedly acted as a mediator in other countries too.&nbsp;

Wolfgang Michel promoted three companies Entera Corporation, UCM International Trading Limited and Ferro-Imports Limited.&nbsp;

Between 1987 and 1996, Entera Corporation reportedly earned more than two million pounds from India. The CBI further informed that Christain`s sister Sasha Ozeman had been in the news for standing by her brother`s side and made public statements pertaining to the involvement of Christian in the VVIP Chopper deal case.&nbsp;

The CBI alleges that Michel paid bribes to senior Indian government officials to secure the chopper deal for Agusta in 2010. He has denied the accusations.

Victory for Modi government&nbsp;

Christian`s extradition, which took place days after a Dubai court rejected his plea against the move, marks a major success for Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s government in its fight against corruption and apprehending fugitives abroad.&nbsp;

Michel is particularly important to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the accusations against him relate to the period when the opposition and bitter foe Congress was in power.&nbsp;

The timing is also right for the BJP as it girds for a no-holds-barred fight against Congress in elections just a few months away.

How Michel is involved in the deal 
The CBI has alleged that Michel, who was a consultant to Agusta at the time, entered into as many as 12 contracts through two of his firms to legitimise the bribes paid to officials to secure the 556 million euro deal for the 12 AW101 helicopters. India cancelled the deal in 2013.&nbsp;

A warrant for his arrest was issued in September 2015 and he was taken into custody in the United Arab Emirates in February 2017 after the CBI issued a red notice to Interpol.

What's the way forward

The police statement said that Michel would be examined with respect to his involvement in the case and confronted with documents received by the CBI that indicate the bribes he is alleged to have paid.&nbsp;

Michel, who is presently at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters, is likely to be produced before a competent court on Wednesday. Furthermore, the CBI is likely to ask the court for extended custody of Michel for the purpose of investigation.

Formal charges will hinge on the outcome of the CBI investigation.

Christian Michel, a key accused and alleged middleman in the Rs 3600 crore abortive, scandal-tainted AgustaWestland helicopter deal with Anglo-Italian firm Agusta Westland was extradited to India from Dubai late on Tuesday.

Christian Michel, a key accused and alleged middleman in the Rs 3600 crore abortive, scandal-tainted AgustaWestland helicopter deal with Anglo-Italian firm Agusta Westland was extradited to India from Dubai late on Tuesday. What's AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam The Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VIP helicopter deal, finalised during the previous government of Manmohan Singh, had got mired in allegations of kickbacks. The 54-year-old Michel is an accused in the case along with some others including former Air Chief SP Tyagi. CBI`s request for extradition was forwarded to the UAE authorities on March 19, last year through diplomatic channels.Extradition proceedings were held before UAE Court against Christian on the extradition request of CBI. Vide order dated November 19, 2018, the Court of Dubai upheld the lower court decision for possibility of extraditing Christian to Indian authorities. Accordingly, Christian is being extradited to face the legal proceedings. Who is Christian Michel James? Michel is a popular British consultant who was allegedly hired by AgustaWestland to influence top-ranking officials in Indian Airforce and the UPA government to help secure the Rs 3,600 crore deal for the company. According to the Enforcement Directorate charge sheet filed in a court here two years back, Michel had received kickbacks to the tune of 30 million Euros from AgustaWestland for the deal involving a purchase of 12 VIP helicopters. The deal, signed in 2007, was scrapped in 2013 following the bribery allegations.CBI had filed charge sheet in a trial court on September 1, 2017 against Christian and 11 other accused persons. The trial court took cognizance of the offences on October 11, 2017. CBI's charges According to the CBI, Wolfgang Max Richard Michel, father of Christian, was also a consultant of AgustaWestland, the United Kingdom for the Indian territory in 1980s had reportedly acted as a mediator in other countries too. Wolfgang Michel promoted three companies Entera Corporation, UCM International Trading Limited and Ferro-Imports Limited. Between 1987 and 1996, Entera Corporation reportedly earned more than two million pounds from India. The CBI further informed that Christain`s sister Sasha Ozeman had been in the news for standing by her brother`s side and made public statements pertaining to the involvement of Christian in the VVIP Chopper deal case. The CBI alleges that Michel paid bribes to senior Indian government officials to secure the chopper deal for Agusta in 2010. He has denied the accusations. Victory for Modi government Christian`s extradition, which took place days after a Dubai court rejected his plea against the move, marks a major success for Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s government in its fight against corruption and apprehending fugitives abroad. Michel is particularly important to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the accusations against him relate to the period when the opposition and bitter foe Congress was in power. The timing is also right for the BJP as it girds for a no-holds-barred fight against Congress in elections just a few months away. How Michel is involved in the deal The CBI has alleged that Michel, who was a consultant to Agusta at the time, entered into as many as 12 contracts through two of his firms to legitimise the bribes paid to officials to secure the 556 million euro deal for the 12 AW101 helicopters. India cancelled the deal in 2013. A warrant for his arrest was issued in September 2015 and he was taken into custody in the United Arab Emirates in February 2017 after the CBI issued a red notice to Interpol. What's the way forward The police statement said that Michel would be examined with respect to his involvement in the case and confronted with documents received by the CBI that indicate the bribes he is alleged to have paid. Michel, who is presently at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters, is likely to be produced before a competent court on Wednesday. Furthermore, the CBI is likely to ask the court for extended custody of Michel for the purpose of investigation. Formal charges will hinge on the outcome of the CBI investigation.

What is the VVIP chopper scam and who is Christian Michel?

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Global Leadership Series: Former Italy PM on AgustaWestland, Brexit, Trump and more

What is the VVIP chopper scam and who is Christian Michel?