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Written question asked by Lord Young of Cookham (Conservative) on Tuesday, 14 September 2021, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 28 September 2021. It was answered by Lord Stewart of Dirleton (Conservative) on Tuesday, 28 September 2021 on behalf of the Attorney General.


Robert Mugabe: British American Tobacco

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of allegations in the BBC’s Panorama programme on 13 September that British American Tobacco paid a bribe to the then President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe.

Answer

Following a three-year investigation into British American Tobacco, in January 2021 the SFO determined that this case did not meet the evidential tests as defined in the Code for Crown Prosecutors. As with all cases that fail this first limb of the Code, it was therefore not in the public interest to continue with the investigation.

The SFO is aware of the allegations made in the BBC’s Panorama programme in September 2021.

The SFO continues to assist its international law enforcement partners with ongoing investigations related to this matter, and will assess any new material on its merits, as with any allegation of serious fraud, bribery or corruption. The SFO does not disclose the actions it takes to assess allegations.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL2728
Session
2021-22
Subjects
Mugabe, Robert British American Tobacco Bribery
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk