Southwark Crown Court convicted Arben Hysa of Tony Demolition Workers for bribing three Keltbray managers over labour contracts worth £15m.

The bribes totalled more than £600,000 between 2012 and 2018.

The Keltbray managers, Michael McCarthy, Simon Lacey, and John Burke, were convicted of receiving the bribes, which represented a ‘breach of trust’ in respect of their obligations to their employer Keltbray.

Hysa, Burke and McCarthy were sentenced to three and half years imprisonment while Lacey was sentenced to two years imprisonment.

The CPS prosecution was launched following a Home Office investigation into demolition industry labour contracts between Keltbray and Tony Demolition Workers Ltd, based in London.

Andrew Cant from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Corruption in the construction industry distorts competition between companies and makes the UK a less attractive marketplace for domestic and foreign investors. McCarthy, Lacey, and Burke ignored the rules in respect of their obligation to act in the interests of their employer Keltbray when dealing with external contractors by accepting significant sums of money from Arben Hysa.

“The CPS will now commence confiscation proceedings in order to reclaim the ill-gotten gains of the defendants’ crimes.”

Keltbray said: “Following the Crown Court’s sentencing yesterday of three former Keltbray employees for corruption, Keltbray firmly welcomes the decisive outcome and the clear message it sends about accountability and justice.

“Keltbray was a direct victim of these individuals’ serious breaches of trust during their employment between 2012 and 2018.

“Their actions were a gross violation of the responsibilities entrusted to them, and we are dismayed by their misconduct. Keltbray fully supported the authorities throughout the extensive investigation and judicial process, and the severity of the sentences rightly reflects the gravity of their offences. Keltbray thanks the CPS for their action in this case.

“This verdict upholds the principles enshrined in Keltbray’s Code of Conduct and demonstrates the critical importance of our zero-tolerance approach, including the immediate dismissal of those involved at the time. Now that justice has been served, we are resolute in continuing our commitment to promoting the highest standards of integrity, ethics, and professionalism across every part of our organisation.”