A former executive of Sweett Group PLC has been convicted of two destruction of evidence offences, contrary to section 2(16) of the UK Criminal Justice Act 1987. On 21 December 2016, Richard Kingston, previously a Managing Director of Sweett's Middle East and India operations, was found guilty of concealing, destroying or otherwise disposing of two mobile phones, knowing or suspecting that the data stored on those phones—namely emails, text and WhatsApp messages—was pertinent to the Serious Fraud Office's ("SFO") investigation into suspected bribes paid by Sweett. Kingston has been sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently.
The SFO's General Counsel, Alun Milford, said that Kingston "actively took steps to frustrate our inquiries into his involvement, and that of others, in the suspected payment of bribes. We will not hesitate to pursue those who may set out similarly to disrupt our investigations."
The SFO's prosecution and successful conviction of Kingston highlights its commitment to investigate and pursue not just those who engage in bribery and corruption, but also those who facilitate, fail to prevent or otherwise seek to conceal evidence of such conduct.
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