Treasury loses five-year fight to conceal 40 names linked to collapsed bank BCCI

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At first, the Treasury claimed the full release of the so-called "Sandstorm Report" into the bank's activities would "prejudice the UK's relationship with one or more other states". It later challenged the release on the grounds of "data protection", before finally losing its case at an Information Tribunal.

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"The UK Government has clearly been engaged in a massive cover-up and used taxpayers' monies to fight the case," Professor Sikka said. "Just look at the names of the individuals and organisations – these include well-known domestic and foreign banks from home and abroad, rulers from the Middle East, business advisers and sundry. Some of the people have already been convicted of criminal activity, but even 20 years later the Government was protecting their identity."

The Tribunal ruled that in almost all cases there was legitimate or significant public interest in disclosure, overturning an earlier ruling by the Information Commissioner.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/8753891/Treasury-loses-five-year-fight-to-conceal-40-names-linked-to-collapsed-bank-BCCI.html