Drilling firm to pay out £5.6m after admitting profiting from unlawful deal

Aberdeen-based Abbot Group Limited admitted it benefited from corrupt payments made in relation to a contract entered into by one of its overseas subsidiaries and an overseas oil and gas company, the Crown Office said.

The contract was entered into in 2006 and the payments were made in 2007.

The Crown Office said the corrupt payments were brought to light last year following inquiries by an overseas tax authority which resulted in an investigation by a firm of solicitors and a firm of accountants instructed by Abbot itself.

None of the people involved in the payments remain with the group, which said it was “deeply disappointed” over what took place.

Abbot reported the results of the investigation to the Crown Office in July this year under a “self-reporting initiative”. It is the first company to enter into such a civil settlement since the initiative was introduced last year.

The £5.6m to be handed over will be paid in three stages by the end of March 2015.

Solicitor General Lesley Thomson QC said: “Bribery and corruption cause worldwide damage to business and economic development. The self-reporting initiative creates a mechanism for businesses to recognise their corporate responsibility and take a rigorous approach to the investigation and elimination of such practices.

“While consideration must first be given to prosecution of appropriate cases, I am pleased that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the Civil Recovery Unit are committed to taking effective steps to ensure that businesses face up to their responsibilities and relinquish any unlawfully obtained profits.”

Louise Andrew, general counsel at Abbot Group, said: “We are deeply disappointed this improper payment took place. We believe in conducting business legally and ethically and do not tolerate bribery in any form.”