Petrofac under investigation by Serious Fraud Office, CEO questioned

The Serious Fraud Office has launched a criminal investigation into Petrofac, its subsidiaries and its employees, which the agency confirmed was over suspicions of bribery, corruption and money laundering.

The SFO said the probe was related to the SFO’s ongoing investigation into the activities of Unaoil, a Monaco-based consultancy that worked with Petrofac, primarily in Kazakhstan between 2002 and 2009.

Petrofac's chief executive Ayman Asfari and chief operating officer Marwan Chedid have both been questioned under caution by the SFO.

"The company is cooperating with the authorities," Petrofac said in a short statement on Friday afternoon.

The SFO confirmed that it "is investigating the activities of Petrofac Plc, its subsidiaries, and their officers, employees and agents for suspected bribery, corruption and money laundering"

Last summer, the FTSE 250 company commissioned an investigation into media allegations that Unaoil had made bribes on Petrofac's behalf.

Lawyers Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, with the support of forensic accountants at KPMG, reported no evidence of misconduct.

The announcement sent shares in Petrofac down 9% on Friday.