DEPARTMENT FOR
BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2008/180)
issued by The Government News Network on 22 August 2008
The first
successful prosecution by the City of London Police's
Overseas Anti-Corruption Unit was welcomed by the government today.
Neils Jorgen Tobiasen, 65, from Denmark, pleaded guilty at
Southwark Crown Court to making corrupt payments.
Tobiasen, financial director of CBRN Team Ltd, will be sentenced
at a later date.
Anti-Corruption Minister John Hutton said:
"I wholeheartedly congratulate the Overseas Anti-Corruption
Unit for their landmark success in this case.
"Extra government funding is helping the unit make a real
impact by bringing to book the corrupt companies who pay bribes
and foreign officials who take them.
"Corruption hurts honest companies and raises the cost of
doing business. This is the first of what I hope will be many
victories for the unit in the fight against corruption and
bribery."
Secretary of State for International
Development Douglas Alexander said:
"Bribery and corruption not only hurts the poor but hurts
business too. This is why the Department for International
Development has funded this programme. I am delighted to see this result."
Notes to Editors
1. Tobiasen was charged under Section 1 of the Prevention of
Corruption Act 1906.
2. The City of London Police's Overseas Anti-Corruption Unit
was established alongside a dedicated Metropolitan Police Service
anti-money-laundering unit 18 months ago under the first
Anti-Corruption Action Plan.
3. The Department for International Development funded these
units for 3 years with £6m. The Department for Business provided
an additional £140,000 a year to fund an expansion of the Overseas
Anti-Corruption Unit by two more officers.
4. The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
helps UK business succeed in an increasingly competitive world. It
promotes business growth and a strong enterprise economy, leads
the better regulation agenda and champions free and fair markets.
It is the shareholder in a number of Government-owned assets and
it works to secure, clean and competitively priced energy supplies
Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory
Reform
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