Glasgow freight firm Braid UK to pay £2.2m over corrupt deals

A Glasgow-based company has agreed to pay £2.2 million after employees carried out corrupt deals.
Braid UK specialises in freight and logistics. Picture: PA NewsBraid UK specialises in freight and logistics. Picture: PA News
Braid UK specialises in freight and logistics. Picture: PA News

A Scottish freight company is to hand over more than £2 million after its employees were found to have carried out corrupt deals.

An investigation into the activities of Glasgow-based Braid Logistics UK, which specialises in freight and logistics, found two separate cases of dishonest money-making.

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Its parent company, Braid Group, contacted the authorities after making the discovery. It has accepted it obtained business through unlawful conduct, the Crown Office said.

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Following a settlement, a sum of £2.2m will be handed to the civil recovery unit for use in community projects across Scotland.

The first scam involved an agreement between a Braid UK staff member and an employee of one of its customers. It saw inflated invoices provided to the customer to cover unauthorised expenses including personal travel, holidays and gifts.

In a second case, a profit sharing deal was found to be in place, where the profit made on services provided to the customer was split, in return for orders continuing to be placed with Braid UK.

Both cases were found to be in breach of the Bribery Act 2010, which forbids bribes being paid to gain business.

Although the settlement has been agreed, criminal investigations into individuals may follow, the Crown Office added.

Linda Hamilton, head of the civil recovery unit, said: “It is vital to the health of the Scottish economy that any form of bribery or corruption is identified and stopped as soon as possible. Only in this way can businesses who play by the rules flourish, without competing with those who obtain commercial advantage through unlawful means.”

She added: “Braid is to be commended for self-reporting the unlawful conduct to Crown Office.”

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Alasdair Davidson, group financial director at Braid Logistics, said: “The activities uncovered in this case were the unauthorised actions of a small number of individuals who are no longer employed by the company.”