4th Sep 2014 05:53
LONDON (Alliance News) - Anti-corruption activists have accused contractors and agents working on behalf of London-listed oil group SOCO International PLC of paying bribes to officials and rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo in a bid to explore for oil in the oldest national park in Africa, The Independent reports Thursday.
Undercover investigators making a documentary in conjunction with non-governmental organisation Global Witness filmed an alleged ally of FTSE 250-listed SOCO offering to pay a senior park ranger at the Lake Edward park in Virunga to spy on the head of the park, Emanuel de Merode, the paper said.
In April, de Merode was shot and seriously injured by unknown assailants, though there is no suggestion SOCO was involved and the company quickly condemned the attack, the Independent says.
SOCO has been conducting feasibility studies on whether it could drill for oil in Lake Edward, a Unesco world heritage site.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/british-oil-giant-accused-of-bribery-in-tussle-over-africas-oldest-national-park-9710277.html
By Sam Unsted; [email protected]; @SamUAtAlliance
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