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British firm fined for corruption British firm fined for corruption
(10 minutes later)
A British construction firm has been ordered to pay £5m after it pleaded guilty to involvement in overseas corruption and breaching UN sanctions.A British construction firm has been ordered to pay £5m after it pleaded guilty to involvement in overseas corruption and breaching UN sanctions.
Mabey & Johnson tried to influence officials in Jamaica and Ghana when bidding for public contracts.Mabey & Johnson tried to influence officials in Jamaica and Ghana when bidding for public contracts.
It also paid more than $200,000 (£123,000) to Saddam Hussein's Iraq regime, violating the terms of the UN oil for food programme. It also paid money to Saddam Hussein's Iraq regime, violating the terms of the UN oil for food programme.
The firm was fined, and ordered to pay a confiscation order and costs. Reading-based bridge builders Mabey & Johnson confessed its wrongdoing to the Serious Fraud Office.
Reading-based bridge builders Mabey & Johnson secured contracts worth £60 million by bribing foreign politicians and other officials. The firm secured contracts worth £60 million by bribing foreign politicians and other officials.
A judge at Southwark Crown Court fined the firm £3.5m. It was also ordered to pay a £1.1m confiscation order and £350,000 in prosecution costs.A judge at Southwark Crown Court fined the firm £3.5m. It was also ordered to pay a £1.1m confiscation order and £350,000 in prosecution costs.
In addition the company has made £1,413,611 available as reparations to Ghana, Jamaica and Iraq.In addition the company has made £1,413,611 available as reparations to Ghana, Jamaica and Iraq.
It had pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiracy to corrupt and one charge of breaching UN sanctions on Iraq. 'Severely detrimental'
Following extensive discussions with the Serious Fraud Office, it pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiracy to corrupt and one charge of breaching UN sanctions on Iraq.
Part of the case against the firm concerned Mabey & Johnson's involvement in the UN oil for food programme in Iraq.Part of the case against the firm concerned Mabey & Johnson's involvement in the UN oil for food programme in Iraq.
Illegal payments to that state, combined with those from other companies "all over the world could be used for purposes severely detrimental to the proclaimed interests of the UK and, indeed, the UN", said Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC.Illegal payments to that state, combined with those from other companies "all over the world could be used for purposes severely detrimental to the proclaimed interests of the UK and, indeed, the UN", said Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC.
London's Southwark Crown Court heard that altogether the firm had parted with sweeteners totalling £1m. London's Southwark Crown Court heard that altogether the firm had parted with pay-outs totalling £1m.