Two men from Essex-based IT dealership Orbital Solutions are accused of making corrupt payments to ensure they won contracts from Havering Council.

Southwark Crown Court began hearing evidence in the case today, in a trial that is expected to last up to eight days.

The prosecution alleges that Havering council official Kevin Barry also took part in the 14 month fraud. He is accused of taking payments from Christopher Clarke and John Brett of Orbital Solutions to feed them secret information about council contracts.

Quoted by the Evening Standard, prosecutor Jane Bewsey said: "The allegation is that these men gave corrupt payments to Mr Barry to secure orders from him. In other words, they gave him bribes in return for him placing orders with their company."

The three are accused of splitting profits of £145,000 from their activities, the paper said.

Barry, Clarke and Brett deny all ten counts of corruption. ®

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