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<p>I meet regularly with the Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to discuss
casework and corporate matters, including issues connected to victims of crime and
compensation.</p><p> </p><p>The SFO always aims to trace and seize money and other
assets from criminals in all of its fraud, bribery and corruption cases, so that criminals
do not benefit from their offending and victims can be compensated wherever possible.</p><p>
</p><p>The SFO continues to perform well in this regard and its proceeds of crime
recovery rate was higher than all comparable UK agencies in three of the last four
years. Last year, the SFO recovered the fourth highest amount in value out of 180
agencies across England and Wales, after HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Metropolitan
Police and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), all of which are much larger organisations.
Its success in recovering the proceeds of crime and the work of its Witness Care Team
in supporting victims – sometimes totalling thousands in a single case – and witnesses
were also positively recognised in two HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI)
inspection reports published in the past year.</p><p> </p><p>Internationally, the
SFO recently obtained £210,610 in compensation as a result of its investigation into
Amec Foster Wheeler Energy Limited. The funds will be transferred by the UK Government
to the Federal Government of Nigeria, and will support key infrastructure projects,
ensuring that the people of Nigeria benefit directly.</p>
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