Three arrested in European data centre bribery probe

The investigation centres on UK company Blu-3 and former associates of global construction group Mace, which is based in the UK.

The SFO said that individuals at Blu-3 are suspected of paying over £3 million (€3.5 million) of bribes to former associates of Mace Group in relation to the construction of a data centre in the Netherlands for Microsoft.

More than 70 SFO staff searched four homes and one commercial property across London, Kent, Surrey and Somerset in the UK to seize evidence. Three individuals were arrested for questioning.

Nick Ephgrave, 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, who attended one of the raids, 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.”

A spokesperson for Blu-3 said, “Blu-3 is currently supporting an external SFO investigation and is fully cooperating with the agency.

“We take matters of this nature extremely seriously and are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct across all of our operations.”

A spokesman for Mace said, “Mace has a zero tolerance approach to breaches of our code of ethics, and takes any allegations of bribery extremely seriously. We are committed to fully supporting the Serious Fraud Office in investigating allegations against any former associates of the Group.”