In a statement on 9 November, the CPS explained that the case centred around Warren Roberts, the controller of a sole trading waste disposal company named A&T Waste Management, paying bribes to Cardiff council staff operating the weighbridge.
These offences came to the attention of Cardiff city council after a whistle blower alleged corruption within the waste management division, the CPS explained.
It added that South Wales Police investigated the case, when it became apparent that A&T, “one of the council’s largest commercial customers in waste”, were engaged in “corrupt practices with waste deposited by A&T being deliberately misrepresented”.
As a result, A&T were “saving significant operating costs through reduced tipping fees,” the CPS added.
In return for their assistance in undercharging A & T, four Cardiff Council staff were paid cash bribes by Roberts, the CPS noted.
The CPS also said that as a result, Cardiff council lost around £417,000 in tipping fees and A&T, run by Roberts, benefitted to the tune of £238,000. It is estimated that around £175,000 in bribes were paid to the council staff.
Sentencing
Warren Roberts, 54, pleaded guilty to charges of bribery at an earlier hearing in May 2022 and was sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment.
HWRC staff Cesario DeAbreu and Joshua Hayman, both 33, also pleaded guilty , and were given 22 months’ imprisonment and 9 months’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months respectively.
Andrew Barnett, 54, was found guilty of bribery offences at Cardiff Crown Court and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment .
Anthony Miles, 55 pleaded guilty to charges of bribery at a hearing in June 2023 was sentenced to 14 months suspended for 12 months.
‘Damages trust’
Alistair Dickson of the CPS said: “Bribery of officials damages public trust in the system of local government and undermines council finances. These counsel workers exploited their position of trust to line their own pockets.
“Waste management is an important council service used to protect the local environment and should not be manipulated by customers and council employees for criminal gain.We would like to thank Cardiff City Council and South Wales for all their work on this case.”
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