Sweett Group PLC has been sentenced and ordered to pay £2.25m as a result of a conviction arising from a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation into its activities in the United Arab Emirates. The company was convicted of failing to prevent an act of bribery, contrary to Section 7(1)(b) of the Bribery Act 2010, by its subsidiary company, Cyril Sweett International Ltd, intended to secure and retain a contract with AAAI for the building of a hotel in Abu Dhabi. The Judge described the offence as a system failure as the whole point of S.7 is to impose a duty on those running companies throughout the world to properly to supervise what is being done and how. The SFO said that this first conviction under S.7 sends a strong message to UK companies that they must take full responsibility for the actions of their employees and in their commercial activities.

Content Note

The aim is to provide summary information and comment on the subject areas covered. In particular, where employment tribunal and appellate court cases are reported, the information does not set out full details of all the facts, the legal arguments presented by the parties and the judgments made in every aspect of the case. Click on the links provided to access full details. If no link is provided contact us for further information. Employment law is subject to constant change either by statute or by interpretation by the courts. While every care has been taken in compiling this information, SM&B cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Specialist legal advice must be taken on any legal issues that may arise before embarking upon ay formal course of action.