Plane Acquisition (Iran) Case: According to a media report, Iran attempted to purchase an airliner from a sultan of unknown nationality in 2002. A Portuguese national of Syrian origin was an intermediary in the deal. Iran claimed that the then-head of the Iranian acquisition authority was allegedly bribed, presumably by the Portuguese intermediary. The intermediary then pocketed rather than transferred the purchase money to the seller. In April 2008, a Swiss court ruled that evidence gathered pursuant to an MLA request could be transmitted to Iran. This decision was reversed on appeal in 2011. Portuguese authorities first learned about the case after they were informed by the Working Group of a media article containing the allegation. Thereafter, they interviewed an individual in Portugal who was in the business of aircraft purchases, and who stated that he had not heard of the transaction. Portuguese authorities then terminated the case because the identity of the Portuguese intermediary was unknown. They did not seek further information from Iran or Switzerland.
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