LONDON: Investigators in Britain said Friday they had closed a probe into alleged corruption over the construction of a huge shopping complex near Lisbon linked to Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates. The investigation centred on a decision by Socrates -- when environment minister in 2002 -- to let the British Freeport group build a 75,000 square-metre shopping complex in Alcochete, Portugal. Socrates denied taking bribes for the contract. British police said in a statement Friday: 'The Serious Fraud Office, supported by the City of London Police, has been conducting an investigation into allegations of corruption relating to the development of the Freeport retail outlet in Alcochete, Portugal. 'That investigation has now been closed. 'The Serious Fraud Office will continue to provide such assistance as is required to the Portuguese authorities by way of mutual legal assistance.' The SFO has not given more details but Portuguese prosecutors said earlier this year that they were looking at allegations that Socrates, a socialist, accepted bribes from a British building firm. In February, Portuguese authorities formally charged Charles Smith, a British businessman, and Portuguese associate, Manuel Pedro, with corruption.