Two charged in SFO’s Unaoil investigation

17 Nov 2017 03:19 PM

Yesterday the Serious Fraud Office charged two individuals in relation to the Unaoil investigation.

Ziad Akle and Basil Al Jarah have both been charged by requisition with conspiracy to make corrupt payments to secure the award of contracts in Iraq to Unaoil’s client SBM Offshore.

A third man, Saman Ahsani, is subject to an extradition request to Monaco on related charges.

The charges relate to alleged corrupt conduct within Unaoil, between June 2005 and August 2011.

• Basil Al Jarah has been charged with two offences of conspiracy to make corrupt payments, contrary to section (1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977 and contrary to section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906.
• Ziad Akle has been charged with one offence of conspiracy to make corrupt payments, contrary to section (1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977 and contrary to section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906.

Ziad Akle and Basil Al Jarah will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court at 10am on Thursday 7th December.

The investigation is ongoing.

Notes to editors:

1. The SFO opened its investigation into Unaoil March 2016
2. Ziad Akle (42) was Unaoil’s territory manager for Iraq and resides in London
3. Basil Al Jarah (68) was Unaoil’s Iraq partner and resides in Hull.
4. Saman Ahsani (43), was Unaoil’s Commercial Director, resides in Monaco and is subject to an extradition request to Monaco on related charges
5. The strict liability rule in the Contempt of Court Act 1981 applies.