OlympusThe Serious Fraud Office (SFO) tonight confirmed that it yesterday received a second visit from the ousted Olympus CEO Michael Woodford.

The news comes as Woodford tells Reuters news agency that he has sought police protection amid fears for his own safety.

Woodford said he passed ?new information? to the SFO in the wake of his claims of financial malpractice at Olympus which the company denies.

The controversy centres on fees paid to financial advisers around three years ago.

An SFO spokesperson told Amateur Photographer: ?I can confirm that Mr Woodford visited the SFO again on 19 October. I cannot provide any further details.?

A Metropolitan Police spokesman tonight said the force was unable to comment on matters of personal security.

The SFO has yet to decide whether to launch an investigation into Woodford?s claims.

Olympus said Woodford lost his job because of ‘major differences’ with its management team over the ‘direction and conduct of the company’s business’.

British-born Woodford, 51 – who had been chief executive of the Tokyo-based camera giant for just a fortnight – began his career at Olympus in 1981.