An agent for rail network operators Railtrack toda

An agent for rail network operators Railtrack today (Thurs) denied taking nearly pnds stlng 67,000 in bribes in an alleged corrupt cash for engineering contracts.

Martin Weaver, 37, is alleged to have accepted three payments totalling pnds stlng 66,816 between October 1997 and January 1998.

It is alleged the payments were made by 46-year-old Gary Hughes as an inducement or reward to show favour to Ontrack Services Ltd.

At London’s Southwark Crown Court, Weaver, of Glascote Lane, Tamworth, Staffs, denied three corruption charges relating to accepting the payments.

Hughes, of Palmers Avenue, Grays, Essex, pleaded not guilty to three charges of corruptly making the payments.

A jury panel was sworn in to hear the trial, expected to last two weeks but was then sent home for the day, while Judge Mota Singh, QC, listens to legal submissions.

Prosecutor John Whitfield is expected to open the case tomorrow morning (Friday).

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