SFO secures confiscation against former Petrofac executive

16 Dec 2021 01:22 PM

Following a hearing yesterday at Southwark Crown Court, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) secured a confiscation order worth over £140,000 against former senior Petrofac executive, David Lufkin.

• The Serious Fraud Office has secured a confiscation order worth over £140,000 against Petrofac’s former Head of Sales, David Lufkin.
• In October 2021, David Lufkin was handed a two-year suspended sentence, for making corrupt payments and offers to influence the awarding of oil and gas contracts for Petrofac in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

In October 2021, Mr Lufkin, Petrofac’s former Head of Sales, was handed a two-year custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months. Mr Lufkin had previously pleaded guilty to 14 counts of bribery and admitted making corrupt payments between 2011 and 2018 to influence the awarding of contracts to the Petrofac Group. In addition to pleading guilty, Mr Lufkin co-operated with SFO investigators and assisted the wider investigation.

This case has also seen the SFO secure convictions against Petrofac Ltd, with the company ordered to pay £77m in fines (including a confiscation order worth over £22m) after pleading guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery between 2011 and 2017.

Commenting on the confiscation order, Emma Luxton, SFO Head of Proceeds of Crime and International Assistance, yesterday said:

“This ruling is yet another example of the SFO’s dogged determination to trace and recover the proceeds of bribery and corruption around the world.

“Today’s confiscation order sends a strong message that crime does not pay.”