SFO consider formal investigation into contracts in Iraq and the Philippines won by Mabey and Johnson.

The Serious Fraud Office is considering launching a formal investigation into British bridge-building firm Mabey and Johnson in both Iraq and the Philippines.

According to a report in The Guardian, the family-controlled firm has been accused of over-charging on a 拢400m bridge-building project in the Philippines which critics say 鈥済oes nowhere鈥.

In Iraq, the firm stands accused of paying a kickback to secure a $3.6m (拢2.1m) contract, and is named in a UN investigation as one of the companies who made 鈥渋llicit payments鈥 to Saddam Hussein.

In both cases the SFO will conduct preliminary review before deciding whether to make a formal investigation.