The U.K.’s top fraud prosecutor was dealt an embarrassing blow after judges overturned an oil executive’s conviction as part of a sprawling bribery suit that it dedicated years to investigating.
A London appeals court quashed Ziad Akle’s conviction on Friday, in a ruling that criticizes the Serious Fraud Office for its relations with a U.S. fixer and for not disclosing key documents. Akle was found guilty of bribing senior Iraqi public officials to secure lucrative oil projects last year.
