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Charges in the F.H. Bertling Ltd investigation

2 May, 2017 | News Releases

Update: 4 May 2017

Peter Smith was charged, by requisition on 3 May, with two counts of conspiring to make corrupt payments, contrary to section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

The Serious Fraud Office has charged logistics and freight operations company F.H. Bertling Ltd and four individuals with one count of conspiracy to give or accept corrupt payments, contrary to section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.  The SFO alleges that Robert McNally, Georgina Ayres, Giuseppe Morreale, Stephen Emler and F.H. Bertling Ltd conspired together and with others to give or accept corrupt payments for assisting F.H. Bertling Ltd in being awarded or retaining contracts for the supply of freight forwarding services relating to a North Sea oil exploration project known as Jasmine.

In addition, Christopher Lane has been charged with a separate count of conspiracy to give or accept corrupt payments, contrary to section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

The alleged activity occurred between January 2010 and May 2013.

F.H. Bertling Ltd and the above-named individuals were requisitioned on 28 April 2017 to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 19 May 2017.

Notes to Editors:

  1. The case was accepted for investigation in September 2014.
  2. As proceedings are now underway, the strict liability rule in the Contempt of Court Act 1981 now applies.
  3. F.H. Bertling Ltd is a UK-based subsidiary of the German-headquartered Bertling Group.

 

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