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Insurance Broker jailed for overseas corruption

Julian Messent was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment on 26th October 2010 after admitting the making or authorising of almost US$2 million of bribes to Costa Rican officials in the state insurance company - Instituto Nacional de Seguros - and the national electricity and telecommunications provider - Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad.

Following a joint investigation by the Serious Fraud Office and the City of London Police which opened in 2006, Julian Messent, who was a director of London-based insurance business PWS International Ltd ("PWS"), pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to two counts of making corrupt payments between February 1999 and June 2002, contrary to s1 (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906. He also asked for 39 similar offences to be taken into consideration and was ordered to pay £100,000 compensation within 28 days to the Republic of Costa Rica or serve an additional 12 months imprisonment if he fails to do so. He was disqualified from acting as a company director for five years.

Nichola Higgins was instructed on behalf of the Serious Fraud Office.

Media Reports

• Telegraph, 27 October 2010
• The Guardian, 26 October 2010
• Serious Fraud Office, 26 October 2010

1 November 2010

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