Mr Bowden had worked as a cardiac physiologist before changing his career several years ago to become an international sales and marketing executive at a bioscience company.

BBC: Shaun Bowden

Tyco International, whose former chief executive, Dennis Kozlowski, is facing charges for allegedly evading New York sales taxes, had previously said that it would certify its accounts even though, as a Bermuda-registered company, it is not required.

ECONOMIST: Swearing by the numbers