header-logo header-logo

Nowhere to hide

19 February 2009 / William Jacobson , Lista M Cannon , Alex Rene
Issue: 7357 / Categories: Features , Public , Criminal , Constitutional law , Commercial
printer mail-detail

The UK's enforcement of foreign bribery laws is long overdue, say Alex Rene, Lista Cannon & William Jacobson

In the course of just a few weeks in the autumn of 2008, the UK brought two separate foreign bribery cases to conclusion—the first such cases brought by UK authorities—perhaps signalling a marked change in policy by the UK authorities.

First, in late September, the Overseas Anti-Corruption Unit (OACU) of the City of London Police announced that both an employee of CBRN Team Ltd (CBRN), a UK security consulting firm, and an official of Uganda pled guilty to bribery charges stemming from a scheme in which CBRN paid the Ugandan official in order to receive a contract to advise the Ugandan presidential guard. While the CBRN employee received a suspended sentence, the Ugandan official was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.

Second, on 6 October 2008, the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO), in a case the SFO was investigating for evidence of foreign bribery, announced that it had reached

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

Kate Gaskell, CEO of Flex Legal, reflects on chasing her childhood dreams underscores the importance of welcoming those from all backgrounds into the profession

Dorsey & Whitney—Jonathan Christy

Dorsey & Whitney—Jonathan Christy

Dispute resolution team welcomes associate in London

Winckworth Sherwood—Kevin McManamon

Winckworth Sherwood—Kevin McManamon

Special education needs and mental capacity expert joins as partner

NEWS
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School highlights a turbulent end to 2025 in the civil courts, from the looming appeal in Mazur to judicial frustration with ever-expanding bundles, in his final NLJ 'The insider' column of the year
Antonia Glover of Quinn Emanuel outlines sweeping transparency reforms following the work of the Transparency and Open Justice Board in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll