“Corruption costs business and society, providing benefit for just a corrupt few. Ultimately, we all pay the price. These corrupt practices are a parasitic blight on society.” [Devon & Cornwall Police]
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Today, six people have been convicted in connection with a £2million construction bribery scandal linked to the building of the Cranbrook new town:
As summarised on Devon Live in its piece on the Cranbrook bribery building scandal:
Crooked build bosses bribed energy officials in order to secure lucrative contracts and other favours. They were part of a criminal conspiracy which also included money laundering, fraud and centred around the new housing community. Two former employees at the energy company E.ON were found to have accepted bribes in the form of cash, false invoices, references and home improvements, among other bribes, in exchange for work relating to Cranbrook.
BBC News has more details on how the new town Cranbrook is at the centre of a £2m fraud scam.
The Construction Enquirer also carries the story of the six found guilty of £2m bribery, making it clear that the wrongdoing was identified by E.ON after the employees moved on leading to a long and complex investigation. There was no wrongdoing on the part of the energy company itself.
The press release today from Devon & Cornwall Police provides many of the details made use of in the wider media, with an important focus on the story of corrupt construction bosses and former energy company employees jailed for bribery and fraud linked to Cranbrook development:
Because, corruption is at the heart of this case, as reported:
Detective Inspector Dan Parkinson from the Devon and Cornwall Police Complex Fraud Team, said: “These individuals believed corrupt practice was widespread in the construction industry and the method by which business was done.
“Corruption costs business and society, providing benefit for just a corrupt few. Ultimately, we all pay the price. These corrupt practices are a parasitic blight on society.
“It is through E.ON’s initial identification of concerns and reporting this corrupt practice to Devon and Cornwall Police that enabled these convictions to be obtained.
“Bribery is a criminal offence and it is illegal for both employer and employee to offer, promise, give a bribe or receive or accept a bribe.
“This was a complex and time-consuming investigation but we are happy to have worked alongside E.ON and secured convictions against six defendants who believed rules did not apply to them and they could do whatever they wanted in order to reach their desired goal.
“These practices were often referred to as favours. Favours they are not, they are simply corrupt criminal practices.”
Anybody wanting to anonymously report such activities and practice should contact CrimeStoppers online at crimestoppers-uk.org or by phone – 0800 555 111.
An E.ON UK spokesperson said: “Our internal processes enabled us to identify this case and take decisive action. Reflecting our zero-tolerance approach to bribery, we reported the matter to the police and have fully supported their investigation.”
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