Alstom directors lose SFO challenge
Two directors at engineering company Alstom UK have failed in a legal challenge questioning the lawfulness of search warrants used by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
The SFO has also been granted permission to examine search material found at the homes of Robert Purcell and Stephen Burgin, both current directors of Alstom UK, which employs more than 1,500 members of staff in the Midlands.
Lord Justice Laws and Mr Justice Stadlen ruled at the High Court that the pair could not be granted permission to question the lawfulness of the search warrants or argue a lack of reasonable grounds for suspicion in relation to their arrests.
In a statement, the SFO said: "Permission was sought in relation to the lawfulness of search warrants at their home addresses by the SFO. Challenges were absence of reasons, lack of reasonable grounds, omission of relevant information, inclusion of irrelevant information, overbroad and non-specific warrant. Permission was also sought to argue lack of reasonable grounds for suspicion in relation to their arrests.
"Costs in relation to these matters have been awarded to the SFO, the Metropolitan Police Service and Leicestershire Police.
"The order that prevented the SFO examining search material from these locations has been lifted. One remaining part of the claim, necessity to arrest both directors, will be argued in full at a later date, permission having been previously granted by Mr Justice Mitting on 26 November 2010."
On 24 March 2010, the SFO said three members of the Alstom UK board aged 52, 51 and 44 had been arrested on suspicion of bribery and corruption, conspiracy to pay bribes, money laundering and false accounting.
Warrants were issued to search Alstom business premises and residential addresses at locations in Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Cheshire, Shropshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and London.
France-headquartered Alstom employs more than 1,500 people in the Midlands. Its operations are based in Rugby, Stafford, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Derby, Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
