“SFO Seeks Court Action Over Alleged Breach of a DPA Bribery Agreement by Güralp Systems Ltd ”

London, 22 October 2025. The UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has taken unprecedented legal action, announcing that it believes Güralp Systems Ltd has breached the Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) finalised with the company on 22 October 2019. [gov.uk], [dentons.com]

Background: The 2019 DPA

• On 22 October 2019, the SFO and scientific instrument maker Güralp Systems Ltd agreed a DPA under which Güralp admitted to:
• Conspiracy to make corrupt payments, and
• Failure to prevent bribery related to payments made to a South Korean public official between 2002 and 2015. [bicakhukuk.com], [gov.uk]
• The company agreed to
• Disgorge gross profits totalling £2,069,861 and
• Implement significant anti-bribery and compliance controls. [bicakhukuk.com], [bcl.com]

21 November 2024: Alleged Breach

• On 21 November 2024, the SFO informed the court it believed Güralp had violated the terms of the DPA, marking the first instance of a UK prosecutor alleging a breach of this kind. [gov.uk], [dentons.com]

Legal Action & Broader Implications

• The SFO has requested a hearing at Southwark Crown Court, located within the Royal Courts of Justice, to escalate the matter. [gov.uk], [dentons.com]
• Legal commentators note this is a significant development, the first time the SFO has pursued a company for breaching a DPA. [dentons.com], [bcl.com]
• Under Schedule 17 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013, courts retain jurisdiction to address DPA breaches even beyond the original expiry date, provided the conditions were unmet. [simmons-simmons.com], [bcl.com]

What’s Next

• If the court finds a breach, the SFO can petition to terminate the DPA and reinstate the suspended indictment, potentially reopening criminal proceedings. [bcl.com], [simmons-simmons.com]
• Güralp has previously signalled a willingness to seek variation of payment terms, citing financial difficulties, though the SFO reportedly declined to agree to the proposed revised schedule. [simmons-simmons.com]
• The case could set a precedent, signalling a more assertive enforcement approach by the SFO in corporate corruption matters. [dentons.com], [bcl.com]

Summary

The SFO's court application marks a pivotal moment in UK corporate crime enforcement, testing both the enforcement persistence post-DPA expiry and the SFO’s resolve in holding companies accountable for deferred prosecution commitments.

Sources:

• SFO case details: “Güralp Systems Ltd” – GOV.UK [gov.uk]
• Dentons Insight: “Serious Fraud Office brings first action for alleging breach of Deferred Prosecution Agreement” [dentons.com]
• Bıçak Law Firm summary: “Güralp Systems breached DPA, SFO claims” [bicakhukuk.com]
• Simmons & Simmons commentary: “SFO can enforce Deferred Prosecution Agreement after expiry date” Would you like me to draft this as a formal press release or a blog-style news article? [simmons-simmons.com]