Bahrain: Dahdaleh corruption trial collapses

The trial of Victor Dahdaleh, the Jordanian-born businessman accused of paying bribes on behalf of companies seeking contracts with Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), collapsed on 10 December, in a major embarrassment to Britain’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO), which had brought Dahdaleh to trial following a three-year international investigation (GSN 922/13, 919/12, 912/12). The trial opened at Southwark Crown Court on 5 November, and had been expected to continue until the end of January. But on 10 December, lead counsel for the prosecution Philip Shears told the court the SFO would not present further evidence.