Alstom UK boss steps down over corruption allegations

The alleged offences are said to have taken place between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2008

Terence Watson, the president of Alstom’s UK operations and managing director of Alstom Transport UK & Ireland, has reportedly stepped down over corruption allegations relating to the supply of trains to the Budapest Metro.

The UK Serious Fraud Office charged Watson over offences said to have taken place between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2008. He is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 5 April.

The company said: "Alstom has been made aware of the recent decision by the SFO to press charges against Terence Watson in the context of on-going proceedings by the SFO alleging illicit payments by Alstom Network UK Limited in relation to a transportation project.

"Mr. Terence Watson, who has left the company by agreement and on good terms, has informed the company that he is contesting the accusations," it added.

Watson, the seventh person to be charged in a long-running investigation into the French rail and power company, will contest the accusations, the company said.

He will join defendants Alstom Network UK, Michael Anderson and Jean-Daniel Laine, who have already been charged with corruption offences concerning the train supply to Budapest Metro that are alleged to have taken place between 2006 and 2007. Alstom, Anderson and Laine are scheduled to begin their trial in May 2017.

In July 2014 the SFO charged Alstom Network UK Ltd, and British nationals Graham Hill and Robert Hallett with corruption in India, Poland and Tunisia. That matter awaits trial in June 2016. In addition the SFO charged Alstom Power Ltd, Nicholas Reynolds and Johanes Venskus with corruption in Lithuania. That matter awaits trial in January 2017.

The probe, which was sparked by documents provided to the Serious Fraud Office by the Office of the Attorney General in Switzerland following its own investigation.