BAE said for them the matter was now closed
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) says it has lost thousands of documents relating to a probe into BAE Systems.
The UK agency said it lost 32,000 pages of data and 81 audio tapes linked to a bribery probe into BAE's al-Yamamah deal with Saudi Arabia,
The SFO said the lost material comprised 3% of data about the deal, the UK's largest arms sale.
It said it lost the items when it returned more material than intended to a source in the investigation.
The data loss took place between May and October 2012 and was discovered in May this year.
"Any loss of data is a serious matter and the SFO has taken action to ensure no further material can be wrongly sent out," it said.
The SFO dropped its investigation in 2006 after intervention by then prime minister Tony Blair.
"Ultimately, this is a matter for the SFO and as far as BAE Systems is concerned, it is now closed," as spokesman for the defence firm said.
The data loss took place between May and October 2012.
Source: BBC News - Business http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23622364#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
