A CHINGFORD businessman who paid kickbacks to Saddam Hussein’s brutal regime in return for doing business in Iraq has been jailed.

Mark Jessop, of Bury Road, Chingford, admitted making payments totalling £104,649, with a further £235,237 due to be paid before allied military intervention in the country in March 2003.

The 53-year-old admitted 10 counts of breaking a UN trade embargo set up to ensure the Iraqi population had access to humanitarian goods, such as medicines.

Known as the Oil-for-Food Programme, the sanctions allowed Iraq to sell oil in return for vital supplies to alleviate hardship caused by UN sanctions.

Jessop, who owned medical supplies company JJ Bureau in Station Road, Chingford, arranged the illicit deals through two Middle East contacts.

He entered into 54 contracts worth more than $12 million between 1996 and 2003, making him one of the most active suppliers of medical goods in Iraq.

In January 2001 Jessop contacted the government and raised concerns that a 10 per cent rise in Iraqi contracts were simply code for kickbacks to the regime.

Despite being advised that he should not proceed with deals which would put him breach of UN sanctions, he later entered into a contract including the illicit fee.

An investigation into the manipulation of the Oil-for-Food Programme was launched in 2007 following a UN enquiry.

Jessop was charged in November 2009 and, shortly before his trial in March, he pleaded guilty to the charges.

He was sentenced on Wednesday (April 13) to 6 months in jail and ordered to pay compensation to the Development Fund for Iraq and costs.

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