SFO opens European data centre bribery investigation involving Blu-3 & Mace Group
01/05/2025
On 30 April 2025, the SFO announced it had searched five properties and made three arrests as it announced a new multi-million-pound international bribery investigation.
THE SFO SAID:-
- Today, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) searched five properties and made three arrests as it announced a new multi-million-pound international bribery investigation.
- The target of the investigation is UK company Blu-3 and former associates of the global construction firm Mace Group.
- The operation included a search of a suspect’s premises today by Monaco authorities with assistance from the SFO.
- Individuals at Blu-3 are suspected of paying over £3 million in bribes to former associates of Mace Group in connection with constructing a data centre in the Netherlands for the technology giant Microsoft.
- Over 70 SFO staff searched four homes and one commercial property across London, Kent, Surrey and Somerset today to seize evidence. Three individuals were arrested for questioning.
Nick Ephgrave QPM, Director of the Serious Fraud Office, said:
- “Paying bribes to do business undermines our financial markets, the reputation of British companies and the rule of law and will not be tolerated.
- “Today’s action is a reminder that we will take rapid and robust action to tackle suspected bribery and corruption wherever it appears – at home and overseas.”
Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:
- “Bribery undermines the values of fairness and playing by the rules, and hurts individuals, businesses, and our wider economy.”
- “As part of our Plan for Change, this Government is committed to tackling all forms of bribery to protect working people and ensure criminals are brought to justice.”
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sfo-opens-european-data-centre-bribery-investigation
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As well as owning and publishing Comsure's copyrighted works, Comsure wishes to use the copyright-protected works of others. To do so, Comsure is applying for exemptions in the UK copyright law. There are certain very specific situations where Comsure is permitted to do so without seeking permission from the owner. These exemptions are in the copyright sections of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended)[www.gov.UK/government/publications/copyright-acts-and-related-laws]. Many situations allow for Comsure to apply for exemptions. These include 1] Non-commercial research and private study, 2] Criticism, review and reporting of current events, 3] the copying of works in any medium as long as the use is to illustrate a point. 4] no posting is for commercial purposes [payment]. (for a full list of exemptions, please read here www.gov.uk/guidance/exceptions-to-copyright]. Concerning the exceptions, Comsure will acknowledge the work of the source author by providing a link to the source material. Comsure claims no ownership of non-Comsure content. The non-Comsure articles posted on the Comsure website are deemed important, relevant, and newsworthy to a Comsure audience (e.g. regulated financial services and professional firms [DNFSBs]). Comsure does not wish to take any credit for the publication, and the publication can be read in full in its original form if you click the articles link that always accompanies the news item. Also, Comsure does not seek any payment for highlighting these important articles. If you want any article removed, Comsure will automatically do so on a reasonable request if you email info@comsuregroup.com.