Charles Russell Speechlys secures acquittal for John Mason in high-profile bribery case

Charles Russell Speechlys, alongside Counsel Graham Brodie KC and Faisal Osman, is thrilled to announce the successful representation of Mr. John Mason, who has been rightfully acquitted by the jury at Southwark Crown Court.

The contracts central to the Serious Fraud Office's (SFO) prosecution, particularly the terms requiring payments to high-ranking Saudi officials, were established between the British and Saudi governments in the 1970s. These terms were deemed necessary until the contracts' termination in the 2010s. The legal team contended that the prosecution of individuals entangled in this longstanding arrangement was unjust and improper. The jury's acquittal of Mr. Mason has vindicated this stance.

The legal team from Charles Russell Speechlys was led by Partner Caroline Greenwell, receiving support from Partner Stewart Hey and Senior Associate Abigail Rushton.

Caroline Greenwell, Partner, expressed her satisfaction: "This is a truly wonderful day for Mr. Mason and his family. The case has cast a shadow over Mr. Mason and his family's life for nearly ten years, since he was arrested in July 2014. Justice has now been done, and Mr. Mason's innocence has been rightly proven."

Stewart Hey, Partner and Head of Charles Russell Speechlys’ Litigation and Dispute Resolution team, added: "It is approaching ten years since we received the call notifying us of Mr. Mason’s arrest. Since then, the team has worked tirelessly to ensure justice was achieved. We thank the jury for their perseverance over the last four months and arriving at their verdict to acquit Mr. Mason. On any analysis, this is the correct decision. Justice has been served; however, this prosecution should never have been brought."