A quick analysis of the SFO’s recent activities shows that the SFO director David Green does mean business and has secured additional funding in order to do so.
Finally, the SFO have lost patience with ENRC and all that has gone on with that company regarding an investigation into African bribery and corruption. This is a good example of a potential civil settlement going badly wrong and it looks likely that a criminal inquiry will now get underway since the SFO have served a s.2A notice.
The SFO also want to draw a line under the Rolls Royce corruption allegations originating in Indonesia, and are apparently considering a Civil Recovery Order. Presumably, this case would have been an ideal candidate for a Deferred Prosecution Agreement, however these will not come into effect until February 2014. They also seem to have BUMI and the alleged missing £48 million within their sights, and finally perhaps some movement on the Libor criminal inquiry. The SFO are currently advertising for a lawyer to assist with their endeavours in this regard.
It seems that the SFO have secured additional funding after having had their budget slashed in the Government’s recent austerity drive. They have increased income to a new high of £6.6 million in 2011/12 as a result of asset seizures, secured £3.5 million for the Libor criminal inquiry from the Treasury, and also ‘blockbuster’ funding for any investigation deemed to cost more than £1.5 million.
