A manufacturer of bridge equipment, Mabey & Johnson, has appeared at Southwark Crown Court for sentence in relation to admitted offences of overseas corruption and breaching UN sanctions.

The company is to pay £6.6 million. This is the first prosecution brought in the UK against a company for these offences.

The company, which is a supplier of steel bridging and is based in Twyford, Berkshire, had already indicated at a magistrates' court hearing on 10 July 2009 that it would plead guilty to these offences.

The prosecution for corruption arises from the company's voluntary disclosure to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) of evidence to indicate that the company had sought to influence decision-makers in public contracts in Jamaica and Ghana between 1993 and 2001. The decision to voluntarily disclose the corruption offences to the SFO was taken by the management of Mabey & Johnson's holding company in February 2008 whereupon an investigation was opened.

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Commenting on the conclusion of this prosecution, SFO Director Richard Alderman said: "This is a landmark outcome. The first conviction in this country of a company for overseas corruption and for breaking the UN Iraq sanctions and, satisfyingly, achieved quickly.

"The offences are serious ones but the company has played its part positively by recognising the unacceptability of those past business practices and by coming forward to report them and engage constructively with the SFO. I urge other companies who might see some parallels for them, to come and talk to us and have the matter dealt with quickly and fairly."

(CD/BMcC)