More charges in the Libor benchmark rigging scandal may be in the offing later this month.

Lawyers familiar with the Serious Fraud Office's investigation told Bloomberg the agency is likely to file additional charges against traders and brokers involved in the scandal when investigators go to court later this month for hearings involving three defendants in the case.

Expected to appear in court 21 Oct. in separate hearings are former UBS and Citigroup trader Tom Hayes, and former RP Martin Holdings brokers Terry Farr and James Gilmour. The three men were arrested by the SFO and London police in December 2012, for their alleged roles in manipulating the London interbank offered rate, known as Libor.

The unnamed lawyers told Bloomberg as many as six people may be charged with rigging the interest rate benchmark, which is used as the basis for short-term loans.

The SFO, under the new leadership of director David Green, has indicated additional charges would come in the sweeping, five-year probe.

Also last week, the United States joined U.K. regulators in fining Britain's ICAP a total of $87 million for its role in the benchmark rigging scheme. The U.S. Department of Justice also brought criminal charges against three former ICAP brokers for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Investigators said the employees – Darrell Read, Daniel Wilkinson, and Colin Goodman – manipulated the rate for their personal financial gain. They face up to 30 years in prison. The bulk of the fine paid by ICAP will go to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, with 14 million pounds going to Britain's Financial Conduct Authority.

London barrister Peter Lodder told Bloomberg the U.S. charges will turn up the heat on Green and the SFO to take more action in the case.

“The laying of charges against ICAP employees in the U.S. will increase pressure on the SFO to act,” said Lodder, former chairman of the Bar Council of England and Wales. “With a new director, and a significant change of approach in favor of commencing criminal prosecutions, the SFO will not wish to appear a step behind the U.S. authorities.”

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