Serious Fraud Office

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Attorney-General – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 26 March 2013.

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Photo of Emily Thornberry Emily Thornberry Shadow Attorney General 11:30, 26 March 2013

As the Attorney-General knows, the offence of misconduct in public office occurs when a public officer, without reasonable excuse,

“wilfully neglects to perform his duty and/or wilfully misconducts himself… to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust in the office holder.”

Is he aware of any reason why the former director of the SFO, Richard Alderman, should not be investigated for misconduct in public office over the circumstances of his failure, as senior accounting officer, to obtain authorisation for payments to senior staff members of over £1 million?