BCS Barclays PLC

By Mara Lemos Stein and Max Colchester

The head of the U.K.'s Serious Fraud Office said Tuesday it would decide soon whether to file charges against Barclays PLC and several former top executives over their handling of Middle Eastern investment that rescued the bank at the height of the financial crisis.

"There's no deadline, but certainly I would like charging decisions to be made as soon as possible," said David Green, the SFO's director. "I think that time is approaching quite fast."

Launched in 2012, the SFO's investigation centers on how Barclays structured a £7.3 billion ($9 billion) capital injection from Qatari investors as it teetered during the 2008 financial market meltdown.

Through a spokesman, Barclays declined to comment on the investigation.

Barclays has said it paid £322 million in "advisory services" to Qatari investors, which wasn't initially disclosed after the capital was raised.

In a separate probe, the U.K.'s Financial Conduct Authority imposed a £50 million fine over the disclosure failures. Barclays is contesting the fine.

Several former Barclays executives have been questioned under caution by the SFO. The fraud office must now decide whether to press charges against the individuals involved, the bank or both.

Mr. Green declined to comment on the degree to which Barclays has cooperated with the investigation.

Write to Mara Lemos Stein at mara.lemos-stein@wsj.com and Max Colchester at max.colchester@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 21, 2017 10:20 ET (14:20 GMT)

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