A former high-flying Glencore executive appeared in court yesterday accused of bribery.
Billionaire Alex Beard, 57, who was head of oil at the Swiss commodities giant for more than a decade, will plead not guilty, his lawyer told London’s Westminster Magistrates Court.
Beard is the most high-profile commodity trader to have been charged in Britain with corruption.
Trial: Alex Beard was head of oil at Swiss commodities giant Glencore for more than a decade
He has been charged with two counts of conspiracy to make corrupt payments to government officials and officials of state-owned oil companies.
The allegations relate to payments made in Nigeria between 2010 and 2014 and in Cameroon between 2007 and 2014.
Five other ex-employees were also in court charged with making corrupt payments relating to Glencore’s operations in Africa.
Andrew Gibson, 64, and Paul Hopkirk, 50, indicated not guilty pleas through their lawyers. Ramon Labiaga, 55, and Martin Wakefield, 64, did not indicate any pleas. Gibson and Wakefield are charged with conspiracy to falsify documents between 2007 and 2011.
David Perez, 53, is charged with making corrupt payments and conspiracy to falsify documents. He did not enter a plea.
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