Bribery and Corruption

On 19 July 2021, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) received approval by Mrs Justice May for separate Deferred Prosecution Agreements entered into with two UK-based companies for bribery offences. The two DPAs share a common Statement of Facts. The criminal conduct saw bribes paid in relation to multi-million pound UK contracts.

https://www.sfo.gov.uk/2021/07/20/sfo-secures-two-dpas-with-companies-for-bribery-act-offences/

U.K. prosecutors have told Swiss authorities they have proof of an alleged money-laundering ring spanning from Africa to Europe that paid almost $380 million in cash bribes to authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-15/u-k-fraud-unit-finds-bribe-network-behind-world-s-cobalt-hub

The Serious Fraud Office has entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with Amec Foster Wheeler Limited (AFWEL) relating to the use of corrupt agents in the oil and gas sector. The DPA was approved yesterday, 1 July 2021, by Lord Justice Edis, sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice.

https://www.sfo.gov.uk/2021/07/02/sfo-enters-into-103m-dpa-with-amec-foster-wheeler-energy-limited-as-part-of-global-resolution-with-us-and-brazilian-authorities/

New workers’ watchdog will be created to protect the rights of UK workers.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-protect-workers-rights-and-clamp-down-on-workplace-abuse-with-powerful-new-body

The CMA is investigating whether Facebook might be abusing a dominant position in the social media or digital advertising markets through its collection and use of advertising data.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-investigates-facebook-s-use-of-ad-data

The Serious Fraud Office encouraged a “Machiavellian” top City lawyer to leak confidential information about his client while it was under investigation for alleged bribery, corruption and fraud, the High Court heard today.

https://www.cityam.com/serious-fraud-office-encouraged-machiavellian-top-city-lawyer-to-leak-clients-file-court-told/

Ten years have passed since the introduction of the UK’s primary anti-corruption law, the Bribery Act 2010 (“the Act”). This article examines the extent to which the Act has lived up to its billing as the international “gold standard”1 for bribery legislation and looks ahead to future trends in UK economic crime enforcement.

https://www.wilmerhale.com/en/insights/blogs/WilmerHale-W-I-R-E-UK/20210521-bribery-act-2010-ten-years-on#page=1

Malaysian state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) has launched a legal bid to recover $23bn (£16.3bn) in assets following a fraud scandal that rocked the southeast Asian country.

https://www.cityam.com/malaysias-1mdb-launches-legal-bid-to-recover-23bn-in-assets-after-fraud-scandal/

The UK has imposed its first asset freezes and travel bans under a new sanctions regime targeted at individuals and entities suspected of corruption and bribery overseas.

https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/news/uk-issues-first-sanctions-under-new-anti-corruption-regime

On 30 July 2020, the SFO announced it had brought charges against GPT Special Project Management Ltd and three individuals. GPT, Jeffrey Cook, former Managing Director of GPT, and John Mason, the financial officer and part owner of the foreign-registered companies Simec and Duranton, subcontractors to GPT, were charged with corruption between January 2007 and December 2012 in relation to contracts awarded to GPT in respect of work carried out for the Saudi Arabian National Guard.

https://www.sfo.gov.uk/cases/gpt-special-project-management-ltd/