Victor Michael Phillip Dahdaleh, an international businessman, has been arrested today and charged with corruption offences relating to contracts for the supply of aluminium to Bahrain. He has been released on conditional police bail to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on 31 October 2011.
Mr Dahdaleh (D.O.B 27/08/43), a British and Canadian national residing in Belgravia, London is alleged to have made payments of bribes to officials of Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. ("Alba"), a smelting company in Bahrain with majority state ownership. These payments were in connection with contracts with a US company, Alcoa Inc, for supplies of alumina shipped to Bahrain from Australia. Further payments were also made in connection with contracts to supply goods and services to Alba. The period covered by the charges spans 2001 to 2005.
The charges are:
Corruption contrary to Section 1, Prevention of Corruption Act 1906.
Conspiracy to corrupt contrary to Section 1, Criminal Law Act 1977.
Acquiring and transferring criminal property contrary to Sections 329(1) and 327(1) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
The investigation by the Serious Fraud Office opened in July 2009 with assistance from the City of London Police Overseas Anti-Corruption Unit. Additionally the SFO has been in liaison with the US Department of Justice and with the Swiss authorities
