The trial of a division of French engineering firm Alstom, accused by Britain’s Serious Fraud Office of making corrupt payments in a contract for the Delhi Metro, is set to begin in May next year, following proceedings held in London on Tuesday.
At a crowded plea hearing at Southwark Crown Court in London, both sides agreed to a trial date of May 23 2016, for Phase 1 of what is likely to be a three-phase trial. Alstom Network U.K. is alleged to have paid €3.3 million in bribes disguised as payments for “consultancy agreements” to obtain infrastructure contracts relating to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, as well as contracts for infrastructure projects in Poland and Tunisia.
The prosecution said that it awaited testimony from individuals in India, which it expects to receive by July 31.