A couple were arrested at a London airport for Securency case on 16 October. They were questioned by investigators from the elite British corruption buster, the Serious Fraud Office, about their links to about $1 million wired to overseas accounts by RBA polymer banknote maker Securency. It is believed the husband and wife, both British citizens with connections to Britain's Conservative Party, were questioned about alleged dealings with high-ranking Nigerian officials on behalf of Securency.
Securency's British based former head of global sales, Hugh Brown, was arrested last week. He is still employed by Securency in a non sales role and has not been charged. Malaysia's Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) last month arrested three businessmen who were questioned, but released without charge, about allegations that Securency paid multimillion dollar bribes to prominent Malaysian politicians or officials in return for receiving bank note supply contracts.
Details of the London couple arrests comes amid the Gillard government's continuing refusal of a broad inquiry to investigate growing evidence about the role of the Australian government's trade agency in Securency's allegedly corrupt conduct. Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) and Securency worked closely in several countries where corrupt dealings are alleged to have occurred. The government trade agency not only helped the RBA firm select many of its agents but helped court some of the foreign officials suspected of having received bribes.
Austrade has released some documents, which show a UK based company engaged by Securency in 2005-06 to act as its Nigeria agent had a net worth of just two pounds. The documents show the company, Global Secure Currency, was owned by businessmen Benoy Berry and Mike Harding. Mr Harding is related to the couple arrested in London. Dr Berry is a London based businessman who was implicated in a separate corruption scandal in Uganda while working with Securency.
Securency's British based former head of global sales, Hugh Brown, was arrested last week. He is still employed by Securency in a non sales role and has not been charged. Malaysia's Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) last month arrested three businessmen who were questioned, but released without charge, about allegations that Securency paid multimillion dollar bribes to prominent Malaysian politicians or officials in return for receiving bank note supply contracts.
Details of the London couple arrests comes amid the Gillard government's continuing refusal of a broad inquiry to investigate growing evidence about the role of the Australian government's trade agency in Securency's allegedly corrupt conduct. Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) and Securency worked closely in several countries where corrupt dealings are alleged to have occurred. The government trade agency not only helped the RBA firm select many of its agents but helped court some of the foreign officials suspected of having received bribes.
Austrade has released some documents, which show a UK based company engaged by Securency in 2005-06 to act as its Nigeria agent had a net worth of just two pounds. The documents show the company, Global Secure Currency, was owned by businessmen Benoy Berry and Mike Harding. Mr Harding is related to the couple arrested in London. Dr Berry is a London based businessman who was implicated in a separate corruption scandal in Uganda while working with Securency.
Source: The Age
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