A trial into allegations of corruption relating to London Underground‘s Jubilee Line Extension (JLE) has collapsed with the six men charged being acquitted.
The US$113M trial into alleged fraud had been scheduled to last for 18 months, but when a halt was called to the proceedings on 22 March, it had already been running for 21 months. The trial had been described in reports “as one of the costliest and most inefficient prosecutions in British legal history”.
The six men who walked free had been accused of conspiring to corrupt public officials and gain insider information on a US$3.8bn extension to the Jubilee Line. All six had maintained their innocence throughout. The judge cleared the defendants after the prosecution offered no evidence and said it would not pursue a retrial, said accounts. The prosecution said problems with the jury had made it impossible for the men to have a hearing that would be judged fair by an objective observer. It has led to renewed speculation that future complicated fraud cases will be tried without juries in accordance with legislation passed last year.
The Independent, a UK newspaper, reported the allegations that the men had conspired to gain access to confidential insider information that was was used against London Underground’s interests during its dealings with tenderers and contractors on the JLE. The information was said to be relevant to the award of contracts worth millions of dollars, plus two substantial claims for extra payments.
The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith QC launched an inquiry into the circumstances that led to the trial collapsing. He expressed concern that serious allegations were not brought to a final conclusion.
