Four people appeared today at Belfast Magistrates Court on charges relating to Ministry of Defence contracts for electrical and security equipment and services amounting to around £25 million. The case is to be transferred to Belfast Crown Court on a date yet to be fixed.
Outline
In 2003 the Ministry of Defence Police ("MDP") commenced an investigation into the conduct of a number of Ministry of Defence ("MoD") employees and independent contractors involved in the provision and maintenance of MoD buildings and equipment in Northern Ireland. This investigation (Codename: Operation Ramaria) was prompted by concerns that MoD employees were favouring certain electrical and security systems companies and ensuring that these companies were consistently being awarded lucrative provision and maintenance contracts. The charges relate to the supply and installation of CCTV systems. (The period covered is January 1998 to February 2004).
This matter was subsequently referred to the Serious Fraud Office ("SFO") and in September 2004 a joint SFO/MDP case commenced.
The defendants are:
James Daniel McGeown of Belfast (DOB 10/02/39)
Director of VIS Ltd at time of alleged offences;
Charged with two offences of corruption contrary to Section 1(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and one offence of money laundering contrary to Article 47(1) (b) of the Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.
William Ronald Marks of Lisburn, Co. Antrim (DOB 15/06/56).
Deputy senior contracts manager with the MoD in Northern Ireland at the time of the alleged offence.
Charged with one offence of corruption contrary to Section 1(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and three offences of money laundering contrary to Article 47(1) (b) of the Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.
John Symington of Lisburn (DOB 17/09/056)
Worked as a quantity surveyor with the MoD in Northern Ireland at the time of alleged offence;
Charged with one offence of corruption contrary to Section 1(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906
Carol Mary Kealey (aka Carol Davis) of Coleraine, Co. Londonderry (DOB 13/12/58)
(Sister of William Ronald Marks)
Charged with two offences of money laundering contrary to Article 47 (2) (b) of the Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.
