Co-operation, including self-reporting, remains the key for unlocking a DPA (SFO v Airline Services Ltd)

Article summary

Corporate Crime analysis: On 30 October 2020, court approval was given to a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) between the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and Airline Services Ltd (ASL). The agreement was approved by Mrs Justice May at a public hearing at Southwark Crown Court, making this the ninth DPA secured by the SFO since the mechanism was first introduced in early 2014. The DPA requires ASL to pay total financial orders of £2.979m and accept responsibility for three counts of failing to prevent bribery contrary to section 7 of the Bribery Act 2010 (BA 2010), in relation to the use of an agent (agent 1) to secure contracts with Lufthansa between 2011–2013 (relevant period). Quinton Newcomb, managing partner, Rubi Palmieri, associate, and Dilan Yaslak, senior paralegal, at Fulcrum Chambers analyse this latest DPA.