Glencore oil company

Alex Beard, the former head of oil at Glencore, has been charged with bribery by the UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in connection with the company's operations in Africa. Beard faces two charges of conspiring to make corrupt payments to government officials in Nigeria and Cameroon between 2007 and 2014. He is among five ex-Glencore employees indicted, including Andrew Gibson and Martin Wakefield, who also face charges related to the falsification of invoices and making corrupt payments. The SFO's investigation into Glencore commenced in December 2019, following allegations of bribery, which culminated in the company being convicted of multiple counts of bribery in May 2022. A hearing for the charged individuals is scheduled for September 10, 2023, as the agency aims to tackle overseas corruption. This case reflects ongoing scrutiny within the commodity trading sector, highlighting the potential for serious legal repercussions for involved executives.