The UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is pursuing its investigation of alleged corruption at Paris-based Alstom now that the Attorney General has given the agency permission to prosecute the company and former employees for alleged overseas bribery, if deemed appropriate.
The Financial Times reported Saturday that the SFO has notified seven individuals that they are under investigation in the Alstom probe.
The report said the SFO, which started investigating Alstom four years ago, has invited the company for discussions that could preempt any decision to file charges.
Alstom is also cooperating with the U.S. Justice Department over alleged bribery in Asia.
Four Alstom executives have already been charged in the case and two have pleaded guilty.
The DOJ accused them of bribing a member of Indonesian Parliament and officials at Perusahaan Listrik Negara, the state-owned electricity company.
The bribes helped Alstom and its partner Marubeni win a $118 million contract for the Tarahan project on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Marubeni pleaded guilty in March to eight FCPA-related charges. It agreed to pay a criminal fine of $88 million.
Alstom provides equipment and services for power generation and high-speed rail transport. It operates in more than 70 countries with 93,000 employees.
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Julie DiMauro is the executive editor of FCPA Blog and can be reached here.
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