Glencore billionaire to face trial over corruption in payments to Nigeria and Cameroon
A former 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 Westminster Magistrates Court in London.
Beard is the highest-profile commodities trader to face corruption charges in Britain.
Process: Alex Beard was head of oil at Swiss commodities giant Glencore for more than a decade
He has been charged on two counts of conspiracy to make corrupt payments to government officials and officials of state oil companies.
The allegations relate to payments made in Nigeria between 2010 and 2014 and in Cameroon between 2007 and 2014.
Five other former employees also appeared in court, accused of making corrupt payments related to Glencore’s operations in Africa.
Andrew Gibson, 64, and Paul Hopkirk, 50, have pleaded not guilty through their lawyers. Ramon Labiaga, 55, and Martin Wakefield, 64, have not pleaded guilty. Gibson and Wakefield are accused of conspiracy to falsify documents between 2007 and 2011.
David Perez, 53, is charged with making corrupt payments and conspiracy to falsify documents. He has not entered a plea.
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