UK: Richard Kingston sentenced for destroying bribery, corruption evidence
An individual charged in connection with an ongoing Serious Fraud Office (SFO) bribery and corruption investigation was found guilty by a jury on Wednesday of two destruction of evidence offences, contrary to section 2(16) of the Criminal Justice Act 1987 in the United Kingdom.
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Richard Kingston, 54, from South Wales in the United Kingdom, a former Managing Director of Sweett Group PLC, a construction and professional services company was convicted of concealing, destroying or otherwise disposing of two mobile telephones, knowing or suspecting that the data stored on those phones would be relevant to the UK SFO’s inquiries.
He was sentenced the same day to 12 months imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently.
Mr Kingston was first arrested in December 2014 in respect of an SFO investigation into suspected bribes paid by the company Sweett Group PLC, a construction and professional services company, for which he had previously worked as a Managing Director in the Middle East.
Mr Kingston was arrested again in June 2015 in respect of a separate SFO investigation which also remains ongoing.
Tom Payne, representing the SFO in court, told the jury that despite knowing of the SFO’s investigation, Mr Kingston destroyed mobile phones containing emails, text and Whatsapp messages pertinent to the SFO investigation.
General Counsel Alun Milford said: “Richard 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.”
Charges against Richard Kingston were announced in October 2015.
Sweett Group PLC was sentenced in February this year for Bribery Act offences and ordered to pay £2.25 million following a guilty plea in December 2015.
Read also: Sweett Group to pay £2.25 million for Bribery Act violations