The long-running British investigation of Monaco-based Unaoil took a dramatic turn on Tuesday, August 14, when news emerged that the senior lawyer in the case has been suspended from his post at the UK’s Serious Fraud Office for “gross misconduct.”

Tom Martin had been a case controller and senior lawyer at the law enforcement agency since 2014.

The case against the oil consultancy company and Unaoil has been one of the highest profile investigations ever brought by the SFO and centres on alleged payments to individuals involving a pipeline project in Iraq.

The Serious Fraud Office instigated the investigation with dawn raids on members of Unaoil in Monaco in 2016. An announcement of criminal proceedings was made in June this year.

The Government of Monaco has made a number of statements in recent months – including using its @Gov.Monaco Twitter account – not connected to the Unaoil case, in which it has restated its case that the Principality complies with international laws.