A former manager at Coca Cola Enterprises UK has been sentenced for corruption and bribery amounting to more than £1.5 million in inducements.
Noel Corry, 56 was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 21 months, plus 200 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to five counts of corruption spanning more than nine years.
As a senior engineering manager responsible for the procurement of electrical services for Coca Cola bottling plants in the UK, Corry accepted bribes in the form of payments, concert and football tickets. This was in exchange for awarding contracts to companies and individuals he was conspiring with.
Noel Corry
Noel Corry was employed by Coca Cola Enterprises UK for 16 years; his offending began in January 2004 and lasted until August 2013 when he was dismissed from the company.
The two individuals he conspired with and three limited companies were also sentenced on Thursday, 14 April at Southwark Crown Court for their involvement:
– Peter Kinsella, 58 was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 21 months, and 200 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to three counts of corruption and three counts of conspiracy to bribe.
– Gary Haines, 61was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 21 months, and 200 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to corruption.
– WABGS Ltd (previously named Boulting Group Ltd)was sentenced to a £500,000 fine after pleading guilty to one count of failure to prevent bribery.
– Tritec Systems Ltd, of London Road, Basingstoke, was sentenced to a £70,000 fine after pleading guilty to one count of corruption and one count of failure to prevent bribery.- Electron Systems Ltd, of Chester Le Street, Durham, was sentenced to a £70,000 fine after pleading guilty to one count of corruption and one count of failure to prevent bribery.
Each company was also ordered to pay £10,000 in costs with each individual ordered to pay £5,000 in costs.
Peter Kinsella
Detectives from the Met’s Central Specialist Crime Command launched their investigation in October 2013 following a report being made by Coca Cola Enterprises UK of bribery and corruption.
Detective Superintendent John Roch, Head of Economic Crime said: “Corry, Haines and Kinsella worked hard to present themselves as reputable, reliable and genuine businessmen but in fact they were the exact opposite. Each played a different part in the corruption and bribery that amounted to around £1.5 million in financial gain for Corry.
“Corry’s role was one of power; he was the subject matter lead within Coca Cola Enterprises UK and although he did not make the final decision on competitive tenders, his opinion carried considerable influence with both the project managers and procurement team.
“I’d like to thank Coca Cola Enterprises UK for assisting and supporting this investigation; we have worked closely with them throughout the case and I am pleased we were able to provide justice through today’s sentences.
“This is the first time the Met has charged and convicted a company with failure to prevent bribery and sends a strong message to individuals out there who seek to create an advantage for their business.
“The Met’s Economic Crime team sits under Specialist Crime and investigates serious and complex financial crime, fraud and money laundering. The detectives who worked on this case have distinct areas of expertise and it is with thanks to their hard work and dedication we have achieved today’s result.”
Gary Haines