Ex-Barclays bankers cleared over 2008 Qatar fees in blow to UK fraud office

[LONDON] Three former Barclays executives were unanimously acquitted on Friday of charges they helped funnel 322 million pounds (US$418 million) in secret fees to Qatar in return for rescue financing during the credit crisis.

A jury at London's Old Bailey criminal court cleared Roger Jenkins, Tom Kalaris and Richard Boath of fraud after just five hours of deliberation in what lawyers said was a crushing blow to the UK's taxpayer-funded Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

The men, aged between 61 and 64, had all denied wrongdoing.