Sept 24 (Reuters) - Former Barclays executives havebeen called on to give evidence to Britain's anti-fraud agencyas part of an investigation into undisclosed payments the bankmade to Qatari investors in 2008, the Financial Times reported,citing sources.
The FT said the Serious Fraud Office had served Section 2notices on directors who were on the Barclays board when itsecured almost 12 billion pounds ($19.61 billion), mostly fromMiddle East investors, to avoid a state bailout during the 2008credit crisis. (http://on.ft.com/1qvi2Ud)
Section 2 notices deny those giving evidence a right tosilence and require recipients to hand over documents to the SFO- in exchange, the recipients will not be prosecuted providedthey do not lie.
Sources told Reuters last month that the SFO could decide assoon as September whether to charge former Barclays executivesover the matter.
As part of a 2008 deal with investors, the bank revealed 116million pounds in advisory fees and commission to QatarHoldings. However, Britain's Financial Conduct Authority saidthe bank had failed to reveal another 322 million pounds in two"advisory services agreements" with the Qatari company.
Barclays said at the time that it had disclosed one of theagreements, but not the value, and is contesting the FCAfindings. The FCA case is on hold pending the outcome of theSFO's investigation.
(1 US dollar = 0.6119 British pound) (Reporting by Richa Naidu in Bangalore; Editing by Larry King)