Today, the SFO offered no evidence against James Jardine, Mark Preston and Richard Morris, bringing to an end an investigation which has lasted nearly a decade with the acquittal of all individuals charged.
The defendants, former directors and employees of G4S, were charged with a multi-million pound fraud against the Ministry of Justice arising from a contract for the electronic monitoring (“tagging”) of suspects and offenders. The defendants maintained that the SFO had simply misunderstood the highly complex financial documents which were the subject of the case, and that all of their dealings with the Ministry of Justice had been entirely honest and above board.
The case, which concerned conduct that began over twenty years ago, was first before the Court in September 2020, following a DPA concluded between the SFO and G4S. The case was originally listed for trial in January 2022, but following repeated applications by the SFO to adjourn the trial due to failures to discharge its disclosure obligations under sustained pressure from the defence, the prosecution today recognised that the case should no longer be allowed to continue.
Mark Aldred and Katherine Lloyd (led by Michael Borrelli KC) acted for James Jardine, instructed by Jonathan Pickworth and Joanna Dimmock of Paul Hastings LLP.
Rachna Gokani and Tom Doble (led by Ian Winter KC) acted for Richard Morris, instructed by Ross Dixon and Chris Du Boulay of Hickman & Rose LLP. Zara Brawley & Oliver Mosley were instructed as part of the case team, supporting disclosure, attending client meetings and briefing leading counsel.
Mark Aldred
Rachna Gokani
Tom Doble
Katherine Lloyd
Oliver Mosley
Zara Brawley