Saipem and Farid Noureddine Bedjaoui’s Acquittal Upheld by Italy’s Highest Court The Supreme Court of Cassation has upheld the acquittal of Saipem and Farid Noureddine Bedjaoui of bribery and international corruption charges MILAN, Italy, Dec. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Supreme Court of Cassation has upheld the Milan Court of Appeal’s previous judgment acquitting Italian energy company Saipem and businessman Farid Noureddine Bedjaoui of corruption and bribery charges first issued in 2013. Italian prosecutors accused Saipem of orchestrating an alleged $197m bribe to former Algerian officials in order to secure seven contracts with Sonatrach, and businessman Farid Noureddine Bedjaoui of facilitating the bribe.