In the early 21st century, it was implicated in bribery scandals over corrupt payments to win contracts in countries including Iraq, Jamaica and Ghana.
[4] These were extensively deployed in rough terrain in developing countries, and have been used for military purposes, helping British, US and Nato troops establish lines of communication in offensive and peacekeeping operations.
[4] Mabey & Johnson also built several permanent steel box-girder bridges, after acquiring the South Wales-based Fairfield shipbuilding and engineering company.
[14] In its 2008 results, Mabey Group admitted publicly that it may have paid bribes to the regime of Saddam Hussein in order to win business in Iraq, under the Oil-for-Food Programme.
[3] In 2009, in a case brought by the SFO, the company pleaded guilty to the charge of "sought to influence decision makers in public contracts in Jamaica and Ghana between 1993 and 2001" at Westminster Magistrates' Court.
[15] In September 2009, Mabey & Johnson became the first major British company to be convicted of foreign bribery after admitting it had systematically paid bribes around the world to win contracts.
In 2012 the director of the Serious Fraud Office described Mabey Bridge as "leading the way in implementing controls and procedures to ensure it is able to trade ethically in high risk jurisdictions".
[18] In April 2019, Mabey "blew the whistle" about an alleged cartel between suppliers of groundworks products, prompting an investigation by the UK Competition and Markets Authority.
[19] Mabey's action allowed it to avoid fines and prosecution under the CMA's 'leniency' programme so long as it continues to cooperate with the investigation.