The Serious Fraud Office has charged four men and a woman with bribery and money laundering over the suspected payment of bribes to win UK building contracts.

The country’s complex financial crime unit has charged two former senior executives, Rob Simms Davies and Nigel Wilson, with four counts of bribery and two counts of money laundering for suspected offences between 2014 and 2016.

Two other men, Trevor Wilson and Roger Dewhirst, are charged with receiving the suspected bribes.

It has also charged Dawn Dewhirst with two counts of money laundering.

The name of the firms involved has not been disclosed.

The body says the individuals were charged at an earlier date, with all five making their first appearance at Southwark Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday 17 August).

The case was adjourned for a substantive plea and trial preparation hearing on 20 September

A trial is scheduled to start on 12 September next year.

The crime unit said opened its investigation into the case in February 2017.

The SFO, led by director Lisa Osofsky, will provide no further comment on this active case.