The news that BAE will be prosecuted shouldn't be such a surprise. In a fair world, it would be normal. But fairness is not a quality that has ever applied to BAE, a company that has spent years using its influence to avoid facing justice.

The arms company BAE Systems will be charged with corruption after years of allegations and controversy. The Serious Fraud Office has asked the attorney-general to initiate prosecution on charges of multimillion pound bribery.

An international watchdog which monitors corruption says the UK breached its obligations under international law when it cancelled a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation into arms deals between BAE Systems and Saudi Arabia.

Campaigners have said they are confident that an appeal to the House of Lords this week, by a Government agency concerning corruption in the arms trade, will fail.

The High Court will today hear the judicial review of the Serious Fraud Office's decision to end its investigation into alleged corruption by BAE Systems in recent Saudi arms deals. Campaigners want to bring the arms giant to account.