TWO Witham residents have been found guilty of bribing a former senior staff member of the Royal Household.

During two trials at Southwark Crown Court, juries heard how Ronald Harper, who was employed by the Royal Household from 1994 to 2013, most recently as deputy property manager, was paid cash by the offenders.

This was in return for managing mechanical and electrical contracts that Harper managed at Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and St James’ Palace.

During the second trial last week Christopher Murphy, 56, of Purcell Road, Witham, was found guilty of conspiracy to make corrupt payments to Ron Harper.

Aseai Zlaoui, 41, of Baker Way, Witham, was found guilty of the same offence. Both are directors of BSI Nordale Ltd, based in Perry Road.

Investigations by Leicestershire Police’s Economic Crime Unit began in January 2012 after a call from the senior management of Melton Power Services Ltd, who had identified some financial irregularities.

Detective constable Wayne Leah, the investigating officer and formerly of Leicestershire Police’s financial investigation unit, said: "This was a long and complex investigation which has taken over four years to come to court.

"Thousands of documents and financial records were scrutinised in order to gather the evidence which has proved that Harper grossly abused his position of trust at the Royal Household for his own personal financial gain.

"He took money from others to fund his own lifestyle and these company directors were happy to pay him the cash in return for favour when tendering for lucrative contracts and the resultant valued association with the Royal Household."

Officers looked back to financial activities from 2006 and it revealed the directors of two companies paid Harper more than £77,000.

This was in the period when they were awarded large contracts for work at Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and St James’ Palace.

Luke Bulpitt, specialist prosecutor in CPS special crime division, said: "Ronald Harper abused his position of trust for his own personal gain and to the detriment of the interests of the Royal Household, while Thompson, Murphy, and Zlaoui all sought to profit from their corrupt relationships.

"This was a complicated prosecution but these convictions demonstrate the commitment of the CPS to hold to account those who seek to gain through corrupt practices.

"The meticulous and extensive investigation undertaken by Leicestershire Police meant that the full extent of the defendants' corruption was exposed."

During the first trial in June, Harper was found guilty of conspiracy to receive corrupt payments.

Two men from Suffolk were also found guilty during the second trial, one of receiving corrupt payments and the other of money laundering.

Two men from Leicester pleaded guilty to charges at an earlier hearing.

Reporting restrictions were imposed by the court and have been lifted on conviction.

They will all be sentenced on Wednesday 28 September.