UK charges Barclays, 4 ex-bosses over Qatari deal

London

BARCLAYS and four former top executives have been criminally charged over undisclosed payments to Qatari investors during a £12 billion (S$21 billion) emergency fund-raising in 2008.

Britain's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said on Tuesday it was charging Barclays with conspiracy to commit fraud and unlawful financial assistance, making it the first bank to face criminal charges over actions taken during the financial crisis.