The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has dropped its investigation into construction company Hanson, citing insufficient evidence and lack of public interest. The probe, which began in 2017, focused on allegations of fraud and corruption in the company's operations.
SFO Director Lisa Osofsky stated that after a thorough review, it was determined that there was not enough evidence to secure a conviction, and proceeding would not be in the public interest. The decision follows similar closures of investigations into Rolls-Royce and GlaxoSmithKline.
Hanson, a subsidiary of German firm HeidelbergCement, expressed satisfaction with the SFO's decision, noting that it had cooperated fully with the investigation. The company said it remains committed to ethical business practices.
Critics have questioned the SFO's approach, with Transparency International UK calling the closure "absurd" and arguing that it undermines efforts to combat corporate corruption. Legal experts have also raised concerns about the use of deferred prosecution agreements, suggesting that the system may need reform.
