Fraud squad charges logistics company plus seven individuals on alleged bribery related to Angolan oil
Seven individuals plus one company have today been charged by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) on grounds of alleged bribery involving Angolan oil.
Logistics company F.H. Bertling, the UK subsidiary of the German-headquartered Bertling Group, is accused of conspiring to bribe an agent of the Angolan state oil company, Sonangol, in an attempt to benefit its own business interests.
The seven individuals also accused of being part of a conspiracy are Peter Ferdinand, 77, Marc Schweiger, 46, Stephen Emler, 48, Joerg Blumberg, 67, Dirk Juergensen, 45, Giuseppe Morreale, 61, and Ralf Peterson, 72.
The alleged activity took place between January 2005 and December 2006. The SFO has been investigating the issue since September 2014 but the probe was not announced until today.
F.H. Bertling and the seven individuals are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 4 August.
Bertling Group told City A.M. it did not have a statement on the matter.