The international enforcement of UK anti-corruption laws is on the rise, say Chris Warren-Smith, Jehan-Philippe Wood & Ian Pegram
The UK has long been criticised strongly by international organisations including the inter-government Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for its failure to take enforcement against individuals and companies suspected of paying bribes to overseas government officials and third party agents. However, a number of recent developments indicates a new trend for significant UK enforcement in this area.
In late September 2008, 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 twelve months' incarceration. On 6 October 2008, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), in a case the SFO was investigating
