Last week four men were convicted of commercial corruption charges in the UK.  The sentences handed today serve as a sobering reminder that individuals will receive lengthy jail terms if convicted of bribery.

The convictions scotch any suggestion that the SFO and UK courts will ignore commercial bribery cases.

Today the men convicted received prison sentences as follows:

• Andrew Rybak (d.o.b. 28/03/56) of Newbury, Berkshire.  Five years’ imprisonment on each count, to be served concurrently.
• Ronald Saunders (d.o.b. 01/02/47) of Hook, Hampshire.  Three years and six months’ imprisonment on each count, to be served concurrently.
• Philip Hammond (d.o.b. 11/06/54) of Brussels, Belgium.  Three years’ imprisonment on each count to be served concurrently.
• Barry Smith (d.o.b. 19/04/40) of Hindhead, Hampshire.  Twelve months’ imprisonment, suspended for a period of 18 months and 300 hours of unpaid work.

In addition Rybak and Hammond were also disqualified from acting as company directors for a period of ten years.

Confiscation actions are to be undertaken against the first three defendants.

In passing sentence today, HHJ Deborah Taylor, addressing Rybak, Saunders, Hammond and Smith said, “All this was done without the slightest regard for the interests of others.  Your activities in connection with these conspiracies had little, if anything, to do with the interests of those engaged with the project, but were parasitic, leeching money for your benefit.“

SFO Director Richard Alderman said, “Demanding backhanders in exchange for confidential and advantageous information saps business and is completely unacceptable to society.  Hopefully these sentences will ring out the message loud and clear that the criminal justice system will do all it can to combat wrong-doing like this.”

If systems and controls to combat bribery are focussed on government bribery – think again.

[image is luxury cell…]