SFO probe into Ulster construction corruption 'almost complete'

The investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) into allegations of corruption involving Ulster contractors and Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials during the years of the “troubles” is reported to be almost complete – with one report over the weekend putting the value of the contracts involved at £100m.

At the heart of the case is the claim that Ulster construction companies bribed civil servants in order to secure repair contracts for the MoD estate in Northern Ireland.

Today’s edition of Northern Ireland newspaper News Letter says: “The investigation was launched in January 2004 following a complaint by a whistleblower who worked in the Northern Ireland construction industry.

“SFO lawyers will meet next month to discuss whether to bring prosecutions and a spokesman said: ‘We will consider the evidence soon to consider bringing any prosecution. This is likely to be in the first quarter of this year’.”

A former civil servant, now aged 68, is said to have had two visits by investigators as a result of claims that contractors paid cash bribes to his staff in brown envelopes.

Nine others are also said to have been detained over allegations that civil servants received thousands of pounds to favour certain contractors.

“It is alleged that as well as bribing officials to get work at military bases – in some cases to repair terrorist bomb damage – contractors also submitted false invoices, in one case apparently submitting three bills for the same job,” says the paper.