Christian Michel, a British businessman and intermediary, is a controversial figure known for his alleged involvement in the AgustaWestland helicopter deal. His case highlights the complexities of international corruption and extradition.

Biography/Wiki

Born in the United Kingdom in 1964, Christian Michel (age 58 as of 2022) comes from a family with a history in international business dealings. His father, Wolfgang Max Richard Michel, also worked as an intermediary, notably acting as a mediator between Britain’s Labour Party and Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

Career

Michel’s career path involved leadership roles in various companies. He served as chairman and sole director of Entera Corporation, a British firm. Subsequently, he became associated with AgustaWestland and its parent company, Finmeccanica.

Controversies

Michel’s most significant involvement is as an accused middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal. This multi-million dollar deal involved allegations of bribery to secure the contract for the Indian government. He was extradited from Dubai to India in December 2018.

The Enforcement Directorate, an Indian law enforcement agency, accuses Michel and other middlemen of receiving substantial commissions (€70 million) to facilitate bribes to Indian officials. These actions allegedly influenced the procurement process of the helicopters.

Beyond the AgustaWestland case, Michel faced charges in a Milan court for allegedly receiving illegal payments from other companies.

Facts

Several key facts illuminate Michel’s career and legal history:

• His father, Wolfgang Max Richard Michel, also consulted for AgustaWestland in the 1980s.
• Following the bankruptcy of Entera Corporation in 2004 (with over £1.3 million in debt), Michel faced a seven-year ban from conducting business in the UK.
• Between 1987 and 1996, his father helped Entera Corporation generate over £2 million in revenue from India.
• In the AgustaWestland case, Michel is one of three intermediaries under investigation, alongside Carlo Gerosa and Guido Haschke.
• In 2017, Michel wrote to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming he was a victim of a political conspiracy.
• In November 2018, a UAE court approved his extradition to India.