A senior judge has removed restrictions that previously barred the identification of five former Glencore executives linked to an ongoing bribery investigation.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) had initially sought anonymity for these individuals to safeguard their investigative efforts after Glencore, a FTSE 100 mining firm, admitted two years ago to corporate misconduct involving around £22 million in bribery payments.

In 2022, the five affected executives submitted requests to the court to maintain their anonymity in future legal proceedings.

However, during a session at Southwark crown court in London, Lord Justice Fraser vacated the anonymity orders, allowing for the naming of these individuals.

Though not accused of any criminal activity, the five are referenced in the prosecution case against six other former executives charged with bribery, who are preparing for trial later this year.

The six defendants recently appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court but have yet to enter pleas.

Future proceedings will continue at Southwark crown court, with the next hearing set for October 9.

Two years ago, the SFO sought to keep the identities of 17 individuals and three companies confidential in relation to the upcoming sentencing of Glencore.

Of those 17, the five ex-executives supported the confidentiality request, while Glencore’s legal team remained neutral.

The campaign group Spotlight on Corruption, alongside various media outlets, contested the anonymity request, arguing that a perpetual order could impair future prosecution efforts.

Despite this, Fraser approved the application—but not in the unrestricted manner that prosecutors had sought.

In his ruling, the judge noted the SFO’s active investigation and indicated that the need for anonymity should be reassessed after charging decisions were finalized.

The court had planned to re-evaluate the anonymity order by April 2023, but the SFO’s investigation experienced delays, leading to three extensions of the anonymity ruling.

With six former executives now facing charges and plans to charge another individual currently outside the UK, the anonymity orders have been lifted.

Justice advocates emphasize that the public’s interest in the Glencore case—highlighted by the company’s reported revenue of £218 billion last year—necessitates transparency and accountability in court.

Notably, Glencore was the first corporation to be convicted under the Bribery Act 2010 during its sentencing two years ago.

The SFO has declined to comment regarding ongoing legal proceedings.