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Military police probe Sandhurst `bribes'

A Ministry of Defence spokesman says the Royal Military Police are investigating a "number of allegations raised by some overseas officer cadets" at the Berkshire academy.

He says: "The issue is in connection with the acceptance of gifts in contravention of Queen's regulations for the Army."

The MOD statement on Thursday night came only hours before a tabloid newspaper hit the streets claiming seven army instructors had been arrested after allegedly taking "huge bribes" from rich Arab cadets.

The Sun claims the instructors accepted BMW and Mercedes cars, Rolex watches and foreign holidays in return for giving better grades to the trainee officers.

About 10% of the 600 cadets attending Sandhurst are foreign, mainly from Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and other British allies in Asia and Africa.

In previous years some have thanked their instructors by giving them gifts after the annual passing-out parade, which is usually attended by the Queen.

But these allegations involve handing out presents before the parade in the hope of having their grades boosted and winning the best foreign postings.

Founded in 1799, The Royal Military College at Sandhurst is the oldest military academy in the world.

Its most famous overseas cadet was King Hussein of Jordan, who studied there as a young man before acceding to the throne.

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