Senior staff at E.ON and British Gas jailed in UK for accepting bribes

LONDON (Reuters) - Former senior staff members at energy firms E.ON and Centrica's British Gas have been jailed for accepting over 2 million pounds worth of bribes in exchange for commercial contracts, Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said on Friday.

Mark Baker, 56, and Matthew Heyward, 51, were both employed at E.ON, later moving to work for British Gas, the CPS said, adding that the men continued to accept bribes once they were at British Gas.

The bribes, which happened between 2011 and 2015, took different forms, including payments, transfer of ownership of desirable vehicles, false references and wage slips for mortgage and rental applications, stays at hotels and even an air-conditioning unit, the statement said.

(Reporting by Muvija M and Susanna Twidale)