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A major United Kingdom (UK) based company is reportedly planning to plead guilty to bribing public officials in Jamaica and Ghana in the first long-awaited prosecution of a British entity for overseas corruption.
The firm reportedly received contracts to carry out state projects in Jamaica several years ago.
A substantial fine is expected, following lengthy confidential negotiations with the authorities.
A report in Thursday's issue of the Financial Times says the company could become a model for future deals between investigators and corporations accused of paying back-handers to win contracts abroad.
The proceedings - which are due to begin tomorrow - are the first significant fruits of efforts to counter severe global criticism of Britain's anti-bribery drive.
The private company which has supplied infrastructure to more than 115 countries including - is due to appear at City of Westminster Magistrate's Court to indicate its intention to plead guilty in a case brought by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
The agency charges that, between 1994 and 2001, the firm bribed public officials over a contract in Jamaica.
The company faces a fine, while the SFO could take further action against individuals allegedly involved.
The case comes after years of attacks on Britain for its alleged hypocrisy in criticising poor countries over corruption while failing to tackle UK companies and managers that feed it by paying bribes to win contracts.
The SFO has looked at dozens of cases of alleged corporate corruption but investigators have been stymied by a combination of deficiencies in the law and political hostility.
http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/19634/52/
The firm reportedly received contracts to carry out state projects in Jamaica several years ago.
A substantial fine is expected, following lengthy confidential negotiations with the authorities.
A report in Thursday's issue of the Financial Times says the company could become a model for future deals between investigators and corporations accused of paying back-handers to win contracts abroad.
The proceedings - which are due to begin tomorrow - are the first significant fruits of efforts to counter severe global criticism of Britain's anti-bribery drive.
The private company which has supplied infrastructure to more than 115 countries including - is due to appear at City of Westminster Magistrate's Court to indicate its intention to plead guilty in a case brought by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
The agency charges that, between 1994 and 2001, the firm bribed public officials over a contract in Jamaica.
The company faces a fine, while the SFO could take further action against individuals allegedly involved.
The case comes after years of attacks on Britain for its alleged hypocrisy in criticising poor countries over corruption while failing to tackle UK companies and managers that feed it by paying bribes to win contracts.
The SFO has looked at dozens of cases of alleged corporate corruption but investigators have been stymied by a combination of deficiencies in the law and political hostility.
http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/19634/52/
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