Rolls-Royce, the aircraft engine maker, warned yesterday that it faced the possibility of prosecution after the Serious Fraud Office and an internal investigation raised concerns about corruption and bribery in Indonesia, China and other overseas markets.
The US Department of Justice had also been informed of the concerns, two people close to the matter said. The SFO, which investigates white-collar crime, must now decide whether to launch an official investigation that could result in prosecution of the company, individuals and potentially large fines.
The SFO has been looking into Rolls-Royce for more than a year and earlier this year asked it for information regarding its concerns about bribery and corruption in Indonesia and China.