Jeffrey Cook, a former Ministry of Defence (MoD) official, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for misconduct in public office, following his involvement in receiving illicit payments and other benefits totalling over £70,000. The conviction, delivered by Southwark Crown Court in London, centres around Cook’s actions between 2004 and 2008 during which he orchestrated the receipt of cash and cars from a defence contractor through offshore consultants. As per the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation, these payments were commissions for securing MoD contracts, particularly linked to defence dealings with Saudi Arabia.

Cook, aged 67, attempted to conceal these kickbacks, including falsely describing them in expense reports related to business trips in Saudi Arabia. The judiciary noted Cook’s misconduct not only breached legal standards but also eroded public trust in government institutions. Despite his defence pointing to his advancing age and health issues, including a recent stroke and heart failure, the court mandated Cook to pay a confiscation sum of £123,813.06 and an additional £25,000 towards prosecution costs.

The case is part of a broader inquiry by the SFO into corruption in defence contracts, notably involving transactions with Saudi officials. This wider investigation previously saw GPT, an Airbus subsidiary, admit to corruption and agree to a £30 million penalty in 2021. The SFO continues to emphasise the importance of accountability in such cases, amidst ongoing scrutiny by entities like Spotlight on Corruption regarding the MoD’s role in related misconduct.