UK Court Set to Review Bankers' Convictions Over Euribor Rate-Rigging Scandal
Five former bankers who were convicted of rigging interest rates on EURIBOR and LIBOR have had their cases referred back to the UK court of appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). The ex-traders, including Alex Pabon, Jay Vijay Merchant, Jonathan Mathew, Philippe Moryoussef, and Colin Bermingham, were found guilty of conspiracy to defraud and sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to six-and-a-half years.
The CCRC has determined that the convictions "may be considered unsafe" following a supreme court ruling last year that cleared Tom Hayes of similar charges. The original trial against Hayes was marred by errors, including inaccurate instructions given to the jury. The CCRC's decision marks a fresh opportunity for the five men to clear their names.
The Euribor and LIBOR rates had far-reaching consequences, affecting ordinary people's pensions, mortgages, and savings, as well as trillions of pounds and euros worth of financial products worldwide. Nine bankers were initially found guilty of rigging these rates, including Hayes.
Hayes' case was previously overturned by the supreme court in July 2025, citing "inaccurate and unfair" instructions to the jury that led to his conviction. Similarly, Carlo Palombo's conviction was quashed on the same day after a similar error was found.
The CCRC's decision suggests that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) may have erred in bringing charges against Pabon, Merchant, Mathew, Moryoussef, and Bermingham. The SFO has stated that their convictions "may be considered unsafe" due to the same errors and jury misdirection found in Hayes' and Palombo's cases.
The men's convictions are now set to go before the court of appeal, where judges will determine whether their sentences were fair given the potential for judicial error. It remains to be seen if any of these former traders will ultimately have their names cleared, but the CCRC's referral marks an important step in the process.
Five former bankers who were convicted of rigging interest rates on EURIBOR and LIBOR have had their cases referred back to the UK court of appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). The ex-traders, including Alex Pabon, Jay Vijay Merchant, Jonathan Mathew, Philippe Moryoussef, and Colin Bermingham, were found guilty of conspiracy to defraud and sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to six-and-a-half years.
The CCRC has determined that the convictions "may be considered unsafe" following a supreme court ruling last year that cleared Tom Hayes of similar charges. The original trial against Hayes was marred by errors, including inaccurate instructions given to the jury. The CCRC's decision marks a fresh opportunity for the five men to clear their names.
The Euribor and LIBOR rates had far-reaching consequences, affecting ordinary people's pensions, mortgages, and savings, as well as trillions of pounds and euros worth of financial products worldwide. Nine bankers were initially found guilty of rigging these rates, including Hayes.
Hayes' case was previously overturned by the supreme court in July 2025, citing "inaccurate and unfair" instructions to the jury that led to his conviction. Similarly, Carlo Palombo's conviction was quashed on the same day after a similar error was found.
The CCRC's decision suggests that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) may have erred in bringing charges against Pabon, Merchant, Mathew, Moryoussef, and Bermingham. The SFO has stated that their convictions "may be considered unsafe" due to the same errors and jury misdirection found in Hayes' and Palombo's cases.
The men's convictions are now set to go before the court of appeal, where judges will determine whether their sentences were fair given the potential for judicial error. It remains to be seen if any of these former traders will ultimately have their names cleared, but the CCRC's referral marks an important step in the process.