Aziz Rahman outlines the pressure on the Serious Fraud Office

Financial News asked Aziz Rahman to detail the pressure that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is under.

With key reports due shortly on the SFO’s disclosure failings in two major cases, it is possible that questions may be asked about the future of the agency’s director, Lisa Osofsky.

Aziz made it clear that although the agency has recently reported success in its investigation into bribery involving commodities giant Glencore, it is still facing heavy scrutiny. The reports that are due on its Unaoil and Serco investigations mean that the pressure on it is high.

Aziz explained that the SFO’s activities are usually high profile because of the types of cases it takes on. This means there is a great focus on its failings, such as Unaoil and Serco.

The Attorney General Suella Braverman commissioned the former Director of Public Prosecutions and retired High Court judge Sir David Calvert-Smith to review the SFO’s failings in the Unaoil case, which has seen the convictions quashed of two of the four convicted.

The SFO has asked a barrister to assess what led to the collapse of the trial of two former directors of Serco.

Aziz's comments featured in Financial News. (Subscription required)