Four former Barclays bosses face trial over Qatari cash call
The UK’s Serious Fraud Office is overseeing charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and unlawful financial assistance by the executives
London — The most senior bankers to face criminal charges in Britain over conduct during the financial crisis will appear before a London jury next week in a trial that will test the mettle of the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO). Former Barclays CEO John Varley and three one-time colleagues stand charged over deals with Qatari investors to secure cash injections that allowed the bank, that can trace its origins back to about 1690, to survive the crisis a decade ago. The trial, scheduled to start on Monday and slated to last for up to four months, is expected to begin with lengthy legal, procedural arguments before prosecutors open their case. Varley, who married into one of the families that helped build Barclays; Roger Jenkins, the one-time chair of the Middle Eastern banking arm; Tom Kalaris, an American former wealth division CEO; and Richard Boath, a former European divisional head, are charged with conspiracy to commit fraud. Varley, renowned for trademark bright braces and Jen...
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