The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has launched a multi-million pound international bribery investigation, centred on Blu-3 and former associates of Mace.
The SFO said individuals at infrastructure provider Blu-3 are suspected of paying over £3m of bribes to former associates of Mace Group in relation to the construction of a data centre in the Netherlands for the technology giant Microsoft.
More than 70 SFO staff searched four homes and one commercial property across London, Kent, Surrey and Somerset to seize evidence, and made three arrests.
The operation also included a search of a suspect’s premises today by Monaco authorities, with assistance from the SFO.
The investigation is being supported by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Nick Ephgrave QPM, director of the SFO, said: “Paying bribes to do business undermines our financial markets, the reputation of British companies and the rule of law and will not be tolerated.
“Today’s action is a reminder that we will take rapid and robust action to tackle suspected bribery and corruption wherever it appears – at home and overseas.”
The solicitor general Lucy Rigby KC MP, who attended one of the arrests in north London, said: “Bribery undermines the values of fairness and playing by the rules, and hurts individuals, businesses, and our wider economy.
“As part of our Plan for Change, this government is committed to tackling all forms of bribery to protect working people and ensure criminals are brought to justice.”
A Mace spokesperson said: “Mace has a zero tolerance approach to breaches of our code of ethics, and takes any allegations of bribery extremely seriously. We are committed to fully supporting the Serious Fraud Office in investigating allegations against any former associates of the group.”
A Blu-3 spokesman said: “Blu-3 is currently supporting an external SFO investigation and is fully cooperating with the agency.
“We take matters of this nature extremely seriously and are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct across all of our operations.”
