Former chief executive charged with corruption and money laundering
16 February 2012
Bruce Hall, the former chief executive of Aluminium
Bahrain B.S.C. ('Alba'), has been charged at
Westminster Magistrates Court with corruption offences relating to
contracts for the supply of goods and services.
Mr Hall, an Australian national, is alleged to have received
bribes whilst an employee of Alba, a smelting company in
Bahrain with majority state
ownership. He is alleged to have received the
payments in return for awarding contracts for the supply goods and services
to Alba.
The charges are:
- Conspiracy to corrupt contrary to the Criminal Law Act 1977
and the Prevention of Corruption Act
1906;
- Corruption contrary to the Prevention of Corruption Act
1906; and
- Acquiring and transferring criminal property contrary to the
Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Mr Hall was extradited from
Australia to face the charges against him.
The investigation by the Serious Fraud Office opened in July
2009 with assistance from the City of London Police Overseas
Anti-Corruption Unit. Additionally the SFO has been in liaison with
foreign authorities.
This development follows the charges against Victor
Dahdaleh in October last year (see our earlier
e-alerter on this topic). Mr Dahdaleh is alleged
to have made payments of bribes to officials of Alba.
This case is indicative of the
general increase in enforcement by the SFO and is further evidence of the
prosecutor's intention to use anti-money laundering
legislation in the fight against overseas
corruption. Mr Hall's extradition
is demonstrative of the increased emphasis on
international cooperation between government agencies.