A FORMER chief executive of Ellesmere Port chemical giant Innospec has admitted bribery charges.
During a hearing at Southwark Crown Court this week, 55-year-old Paul Jennings, of Neston, admitted conspiring to defraud a competitor company by bribing Iraqi officials to provide unfavourable test results on its product.
He had already previously admitted two charges relating to alleged corrupt payments to officials in Indonesia and Iraq in June.
Jennings joined Innospec as chief financial officer in 2003 and was chief executive from 2005-2009. It was formerly known as Associated Octel.
The company is the only remaining manufacturer in the world of tetraethyl lead, an additive used in leaded fuels.
A statement from the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said Jennings this week admitted to allegations of conspiracy to corrupt Iraqi public officials and other agents of the Iraqi government between June 1, 2006, and May 31, 2007, by making payments as inducements to ensure that tests on MMT, a competitor product manufactured by Ethyl Corporation, conducted by or on behalf of the government of Iraq, concluded with an unfavourable assessment of the product.
