On April 28, 2021, the Serious Fraud Office announced that GPT Special Project Management Ltd, a London-based communications and defense systems provider, pleaded guilty to corruption for its participation in a scheme related to work performed for the Saudi Arabian National Guard between December 2008 and July 2010. GPT pleaded guilty in the Southwark Crown Court to one count of corruption contrary to section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906, and was ordered to pay a confiscation order of £20.6 million, a fine of £7.5 million, and £2.2 million in costs.
In July of 2020, the SFO charged GPT and three individuals in connection with the scheme, including Jeffery Cook, former GPT managing director, and John Mason, a GPT financial officer and partial owner of two companies that are subcontractors to GPT, who were both charged with corruption. Cook was also charged with misconduct in public office for commissions that he received between 2004 and 2008 and, a third individual, Terence Dorothy, was charged with aiding and abetting Cook’s conduct. The trials for these three are expected to begin in May 2022.