BRUSSELS/REUTERS

The court case has begun against a subsidiary of the world s largest diversified commodities trader after it was charged with corruption for providing lavish gifts to an EU official in exchange for information.

The case against the Glencore subsidiary and other companies follows a seven-year investigation into

whether an official with the European Union s agriculture department passed confidential information relating to EU export subsidy application decisions to a French farming lobbyist between 1999 and 2003.

It s alleged the official received free holidays and gifts, including a 12,000-euro luxury Christofle cutlery set. The court proceedings against 17 defendants are expected to last until next summer.