SFO opens European data centre bribery investigation
The SFO today searched five properties and made three arrests as it announced a new multi-million pound international bribery investigation.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) today searched five properties and made three聽arrests as it announced a new multi-million pound international bribery investigation.聽聽
The target of the investigation is UK company Blu-3 and former associates of the global construction firm Mace Group.聽聽
The operation included a search of a聽suspect鈥檚 premises today by Monaco authorities with assistance from the SFO. 聽
Individuals at Blu-3 are suspected of paying over 拢3 million of bribes to former associates of Mace Group in relation to the construction of a data centre in the Netherlands for the technology giant Microsoft.聽聽
More than 70 SFO staff searched four homes and one commercial property across London, Kent, Surrey and Somerset today to seize evidence. Three individuals were arrested for questioning.聽
The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP attended one of the arrests in North London this morning.聽聽
Today鈥檚 operation and our continuing investigation is supported by the National Crime Agency (NCA).聽聽聽
Nick Ephgrave QPM, Director of the Serious Fraud Office, said: 聽聽
鈥淧aying bribes to do business undermines our financial markets, the reputation of British companies and the rule of law and will not be tolerated.聽聽聽
鈥淭oday鈥檚 action is a reminder that we will take rapid and robust action to tackle suspected bribery and corruption wherever it appears 鈥� at home and overseas.鈥�
Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:聽聽聽
鈥淏ribery undermines the values of fairness and playing by the rules, and hurts individuals, businesses, and our wider economy.鈥�
鈥淎s part of our Plan for Change, this Government is committed to tackling all forms of bribery to protect working people and ensure criminals are brought to justice.鈥�