UK fraud squad probes Tory doner-led Petrofac for alleged bribery in nine countries

The British Special Fraud Office is investigating suspicious payments made by Petrofac for period of more than 15 years.
Photo: Ho/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix
Photo: Ho/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix
BY RITZAU FINANS

UK-based fossil energy multinational Petrofac is under investigation after allegedly having paid several million British pounds sterling over numerous years to secure contracts in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, the Guardian reports.

The British Special Fraud Office (SFO) is investigating suspicious money transfers carried out by Petrofac over a period exceeding 15 years.

Extensive political support from several members of the British Conservative Party is also being investigated, the media writes.

According to the Guardian, two former UK Prime Ministers Theresa May and David Cameron have tried to influence Bahrain's royal family to award Petrofac an oil contract worth GBP 5bn in 2017.

David Lufkin, former Petrofac sales chief, has pleaded guilty to 14 charges of bribery perpetrated between 2012 and 2018 with the purpose of securing contracts in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates.

Petrofac Chief Executive Ayman Asfari has donated approximately GBP 800,000 to the Tories indicating political lobbying.

Lufkin will face a London court judge on Monday, the UK daily writes.

English Edit: Daniel Frank Christensen

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