Five charged with bribing Network Rail manager

Five rail contractors have appeared in court accused of bribing a senior Network Rail employee from Essex - who later killed himself with his wife.

Anthony Burgess, 45, and his wife Marian, 51, killed themselves at their home in Clavering in January 2009.

The five men were charged with offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 at the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier this week.

British Transport Police claim the men bribed Mr Burgess in return for deals.

They will re-appear at the court on 20 April for committal to crown court.

Those charged are: Peter Sale, 48, of Tadworth, Surrey; Anthony Ash, 47, of Haywards Heath, East Sussex; Gary Malkin, 52, of Brockenhurst, Hampshire; Jeremy Plastow 41, of Altrincham, Greater Manchester, and Anthony Whittington, 46, of Abridge, Essex.