On November 16, 2017, the UK Serious Fraud Office charged two individuals in relation to the SFO's ongoing bribery investigation into Unaoil.
Ziad Akle (Unaoil's former territory manager for Iraq) and Basil al-Jarah (Unaoil's former business partner in Iraq) have both been charged with conspiracy to make corrupt payments, contrary to the Criminal Law Act 1977 and the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906. It is alleged that the payments were made between June 2005 and August 2011 in order for Unaoil's client, SBM Offshore, to secure various contracts in Iraq.
A third individual, Saman Ahsani, is currently subject to an extradition request to Monaco on related charges.
The SFO launched its investigation into Unaoil in March 2016 following a series of reports (which were published in the Australian media) alleging corrupt behavior by a number of international corporations seeking to secure business in the Middle East. The SFO is investigating Unaoil, its officers, employees and agents in respect of various alleged offenses of bribery, corruption and money laundering.
Mr. Akle and Mr. al-Jarah will appear before Westminster Magistrate's Court on December 7, 2017.
The SFO press release is available at: https://www.sfo.gov.uk/2017/11/16/two-charged-sfos-unaoil-investigation/ .
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