UK legal developments

Bribery Act receives Royal Assent

8 April 2010

On 8 April the Bribery Act received Royal Assent. When this Act comes into force it will introduce two completely new offences into UK law. Firstly, a new corporate offence, which will make a company liable for any acts of bribery committed by those acting on its behalf. Secondly, there will be a new offence of bribing a public official, which will extend beyond what is traditionally thought of as 'bribery'. Read the Act here.

..........................................................................................................................................

Innospec Limited judgment given for conspiracy to corrupt

26 March 2010

Lord Justice Thomas approved the Serious Fraud Office's first joint plea bargain in an overseas corruption investigation into the bribing of employees of Pertamina (an Indonesian state owned refinery) and other government officials in Indonesia by the UK based company, Innospec, in order to secure sales of a fuel additive. Read the judgment.

.......................................................................................................................................