Glencore’s former head of oil pleads not guilty to bribery charges

Billionaire Alex Beard and his former deputy appear in London court over alleged payments to African officials

Glencore’s billionaire former head of oil trading has pleaded ⁠not guilty ⁠to two bribery charges after allegedly facilitating payments to west African officials in order to advance the Swiss commodity group’s operations ⁠in the continent.

Alex Beard, 59, denied two counts of conspiracy to make ⁠corrupt payments at Southwark crown court in London on Thursday, in a case brought by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).