Several former executives of the Swiss group Glencore, which is very present in several African countries, are currently appearing before Southwark Crown Court in London. They are Martin Wakefield, David Perez, Paul Hopkirk and Ramon Labiaga. All have pleaded not guilty to the charges brought by the British anti-corruption and fraud watchdog (Serious Fraud Office).
These officials allegedly participated between 2007 and 2014 in a network of corruption of civil servants in Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast, among others. The group had already been implicated for similar reasons in DR Congo.
The charges vary. Martin Wakefield is being prosecuted for three separate corruption cases involving alleged payments to public officials in Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast. David Perez is accused of two similar cases linked to Glencore’s operations in Cameroon and Ivory Coast. Paul Hopkirk and Ramon Labiaga are being prosecuted for a single count each, concerning Nigeria. In addition, Wakefield and Perez are also accused of falsifying commercial documents, in particular invoices intended to justify false professional expenses.
Two other former executives of the Swiss group, Alexander Beard and Andrew Gibson, already indicted for similar acts, will also have to take the stand.
This corruption affair was revealed by investigations carried out in London and Washington. In May 2022, Glencore and its subsidiaries admitted having paid $79.6 million to intermediaries to obtain or retain oil contracts in Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea. The investigations revealed a concealment technique based on false consulting contracts, overbilling and shell companies used to camouflage the bribery.
Corruption in Glencore’s DNA?
The Swiss multinational had reached an agreement worth 1.1 billion dollars with the American authorities to settle a ten-year case of corruption of civil servants in seven African countries.
The management of Glencore’s subsidiaries in West Africa acknowledged that corruption was part of the “house culture.” The second trial expected in 2027 will open a new chapter in this case. After the conviction of the group three years ago, British justice is now focusing on identifying people likely to have directly participated in the corruption operations revealed.
