A British millionaire has been convicted for selling fake bomb detectors to various countries including Pakistan for as much as £50 million in sales.
According to details, countries including Iraq, Belgium, Pakistan, Yemen, Georgia, and Niger bought these devices from James McCormick, 56, in an attempt to save the lives of their citizens from increasing bomb attacks. The devices, tagged at £27,000 each, were in fact- golf ball finders. McCormick was able to persuade governments and military chiefs that they could detect tiny traces of explosives, drugs, ivory and even humans at a distance of up to three miles, and was allegedly helped by the British government in his search for foreign customers.
During the trial hearing at London’s Old Bailey, prosecutor Richard Whittam told jurors.that McCormick knew the devices were fake before he sold them. He has now been found guilty of three counts of fraud. He has been bailed until his sentencing on May 2. The businessman, who is from Langport in Somerset, southwest England, is believed to have made around £37 million from sales to Iraq alone, while other customers included Georgia and Niger.
Pakistan is also reported to have bought equipment worth millions from McCormick. While no comment has been made by Pakistani officials yet, it remains to be seen who was responsible for these deals. According to McCormick’s own statement in court, he sold the devices to military establishments. Yet it remains unclear whether the civilian government was informed or complicit in these deals.
A spokesman at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills denied any knowledge about McCormick’s business deal, including with Pakistan.