(Adds details throughout and SFO declined to comment)
Sept 24 (Reuters) - Britain's anti-fraud agency has askedformer Barclays executives to give evidence as part ofan investigation into undisclosed payments the bank made toQatari investors in 2008, the Financial Times reported, citingsources.
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.
The two-year investigation has so far been fraught withdisputes over accessing key evidence, the FT cited peoplefamiliar with the investigation as saying.
The SFO declined to comment and Barclays could not bereached outside of regular business hours.
The bank revealed previously that it had paid out 116million pounds in advisory fees and commission to Qatar Holdingsas part of the 2008 deal with investors. However, Britain'sFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA) said the bank had failed toreveal another 322 million pounds in two "advisory servicesagreements" with the Qatari company. Barclays has beencontesting the FCA findings and the FCA case is on hold pendingthe outcome of the SFO investigation.
(1 US dollar = 0.6119 British pound) (Reporting by Richa Naidu in Bangalore; Editing by Larry Kingand Diane Craft)