Five men have appeared today before the City of London Magistrates' Court charged with offences of conspiracy to corrupt. This follows a two-year investigation into allegations of corruption in relation to multi-million pound engineering contracts in the energy sector. The value of the contracts involved is £66 million.
The defendants are:
- Andrew Charles Rybak (age 54) of Newbury, Berkshire
- Ronald Gwyn Saunders (age 63) of Hook, Hampshire
- Philip John Hammond (age 56) of London
- Barry James Smith (age 70) of Farnham, Surrey
- Robert Bruce McWaters Storey (age 66) of Windlesham, Surrey
Outline
The prosecution has been brought following an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office in conjunction with the City of London Police into allegations that inside information was being offered to companies bidding for contracts in high-value engineering projects. Some of the defendants were employed by the companies responsible for the procurement of these projects and are alleged to have passed confidential information to others who then offered to provide it to companies bidding for the contracts in return for a percentage of the contract value. The aggregate value of the five contracts in question is £66 million and the charges relate to periods between 1 January 2001 and 31 August 2009.
Notes:
- The case has been sent to Southwark Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing on 23 November 2010. The defendants are on conditional bail.
- The investigation commenced in May 2008 following a referral by City of London Police.
- The SFO is an independent government department, operating under the superintendence of the Attorney General. The aim of the SFO is to protect society by pursuing and prosecuting those who commit serious and complex fraud. Its Director is Richard Alderman.
Serious Fraud Office, Elm House, 10-16 Elm Street, London, WC1X 0BJ
Press Office tel: 020 7239 7001/7045/7000/7004
or mobile: 0758 421 8694 or 0781 807 6688
Main switchboard tel: 020 7239 7272
press.office@sfo.gsi.gov.uk - or via - www.sfo.gov.uk
