Printing company Smith and Ouzman Ltd ordered to pay a total of £2.2 million

Printing company Smith and Ouzman Ltd, convicted of making corrupt payments, has been ordered to pay a total of £2.2 million in a sentencing hearing at Southwark Crown Court.

Conviction and sentence follows a four-year investigation by the Serious Fraud Office. The Eastbourne-based company, which specialises in security documents such as ballot papers and exam certificates, was convicted in December 2014 under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906.

Corrupt payments totalling £395,074 were made to public officials for business contracts in Kenya and Mauritania. The penalties broken down included a fine of £1,316,799 as well as £881,158 to satisfy a confiscation order applied for by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and £25,000 in costs.

Two employees of the company were sentenced in February last year for their role in the corruption; which is an indication of how UK companies acting illegally abroad are now being punished.