Investigators drop probes on Rolls-Royce

A Rolls-Royce logo is seen at the company's aerospace engineering and development site in Bristol, Britain, on Dec 17, 2015. (Reuters photo)

LONDON: Britain's Serious Fraud Office on Friday dropped major investigations into engineering firm Rolls-Royce and pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline in a move condemned by anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International.

Rolls Royce had already reached a £500-million (20.4-billion-baht) agreement with the SFO over claims that corruption and bribery were used to win business in China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Russia, Nigeria, China and Malaysia.

The SFO said it had now concluded that there would be "no prosecution of individuals associated with the company".

In Thailand's case, an SFO report two years ago showed Thai government officials had received Rolls Royce bribes to buy the firm's engines. The government has taken no action and the National Anti-Corruption Commission has been silent on the revelation. Rolls Royce admitted corruption that took place in the 1980s and 1990s, but has not named any recipients of its bribery.

The investigation into GlaxoSmithKline, meanwhile, related to commercial practices by the firm, its subsidiaries and associated individuals.

"After an extensive and careful examination I have concluded that there is either insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction or it is not in the public interest to bring a prosecution in these cases," said SFO director Lisa Osofsky.

"In the Rolls-Royce case, the SFO investigation led to the company taking responsibility for corrupt conduct spanning three decades, seven jurisdictions and three businesses, for which it paid a fine of £497.25 million."

This figure, agreed in January 2017 as part of a so-called deferred prosecution agreement, was comprised of surrendered profits of £258 million and a financial penalty of £239 million.

Rolls-Royce is also paying an estimated £13 million to cover the SFO's costs.

The firm said it would not be commenting on Friday's decision, beyond saying it was cooperating fully with the authorities following the 2017 deal.

But anti-corruption campaigners Transparency International condemned the SFO's move.

"It is absurd that yet again a company can admit to bribery and yet neither the bribe payers nor the management team that allowed the crime to happen are held responsible," said executive director Robert Barrington.