CPS News Brief

Men jailed for rail network corruption

Four men have been jailed today (21 July) for their parts in an operation to make and receive corrupt payments in order to win contracts as part of the Crossrail project. Alandale Rail Ltd, part of the Alandale Group, was also convicted of corruption by the jury and was fined £25,000.

Kevin McKee and John Zayya of Alandale Rail Ltd made corrupt payments and promised rewards to Innocent Obiekwe so they could secure the contract to supply safety critical staff as part of the Crossrail Project.

In return Obiekwe, a senior manager at CoLOR (Costain and Laing O’Rourke), nick-named by the co-conspirators as ‘our man in Havana’, provided confidential information during the tender process. 

After Alandale Rail won the Farringdon contract by corruption, McKee, Zayya and Obiekwe defrauded CoLOR by claiming for so-called ‘ghost worker’ shifts (non-existent shifts). The proceeds of this fraud was shared amongst them, with the lion’s share going to Obiekwe.

When this practice was uncovered Zayya continued to send money to Obiekwe by using William Waring. Zayya skimmed from the operatives’ rates of pay and used Waring and his company, Qualitas, to pay the cash to Obiekwe.

Their operation came to light after McKee told CoLOR and Transport for London of their dishonest practices, sparking an investigation. 

Jane Mitchell from the CPS said:

“McKee, Zayya and Obiekwe cheated their way to a significant contract and their level of ongoing dishonesty was uncovered only when one of their own came forward.

“The defendants could not hide from the overwhelming evidence put forward by the British Transport Police and CPS and all pleaded guilty, apart from the company that was found guilty unanimously by the jury.”

Notes to editors:

• Jane Mitchell is a Prosecutor for the CPS Specialist Fraud Division.

• Kevin McKee pleaded guilty in September 2016. He was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment and disqualified from being a director for eight years.

• Innocent Obiekwe pleaded guilty to corruption. He was sentenced to two years in prison and disqualified from being a director for eight years.

• John Zayya pleaded guilty to corruption. He was sentenced to two years in prison and disqualified from being a director for eight years.

• William Waring pleaded guilty at trial to corruption and money laundering. He was sentenced to two years in prison and disqualified from being a director for eight years.

• Alandale Rail Ltd was found guilty of corruption and was fined £25,000.

Man who beat a child to death for losing a trainer is guilty of murder

A man who beat his girlfriend’s five-year-old son to death for losing a trainer has been found guilty of murder.

Marvyn Iheanacho, 39, [01/06/1978] from Hounslow, was convicted of murdering Alex Malcolm today (21 July) at Woolwich Crown Court after a trial.

Alex suffered fatal head and stomach injuries after being attacked in Mountsfield Park, Hither Green, on the evening of 20 November 2016.  

He was taken home by Iheanacho and then to hospital but died two days later after an unsuccessful brain operation.

 

Rob Davis, of the CPS said:

“Only Marvyn Iheanacho knows how Alex was fatally wounded, but it is certain his anger boiled over at some point that day.

'The prosecution case was that a witness heard Iheanacho swearing at a child over a shoe that had been lost in the nearby park. He was heard repeatedly and violently punching a gate.

"Later in the park another witness saw Alex lying prone on a bench. CCTV showed Iheanacho carrying Alex’s body to a cab office.

"His actions that day tragically ended a young boy’s life, and deprived a mother of her son.

"His efforts to cover up what really happened, first to Alex’s mother by claiming Alex had simply fainted and hit his head, then by lying and repeatedly changing his story to police, show his greatest concern was for himself.

"Our thoughts go to Alex’s mother and family and we hope today’s conviction brings them some sense of justice."

 --Ends--

 Notes to editors:

• Rob Davis is district crown prosecutor, CPS London Homicide team.

• Iheanacho will be sentenced on 25 July.