FCPAméricas Blog
The World Bank’s Anti-Corruption Coordination with National Authorities
11.13.2012
How serious can The World Bank’s sanctions process really be? After all, the Bank’s investigators lack many of the powers that national authorities often take for granted. The powers to subpoena documents and search premises are just two examples. It is true that Bank investigators might have contractual audit rights. But what happens if the company under investigation happens to have lost the specific files that investigators wish to review?
Given these realities, does a company or individual under the microscope at the World Bank really need to worry?
Yes, for many reasons. Chief among them is the fact that The World Bank coordinates with national authorities. It does so often, and sometimes closely. When discussing this coordination, the Director of Operations at the Bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency, Steve Zimmerman, recently stated, “we look for ways to leverage our resources.”
Consider the following:
Sharing Evidence. Not only does the Bank share its findings with national authorities after it sanctions a company or individual, it is common for the Bank to share the findings of an investigation that has not produced enough evidence to establish a sanctionable practice. The referral might include tips, allegations, and evidence that indicate corruption, fraud, or collusion. Based on this information, the national authority can take further steps, using its sovereign powers to compel addition information and build a successful case.
For example, in the case of the Canadian engineering firm SNC-Lavalin, the Bank had uncovered credible information that the company would soon make improper payments to Bangladeshi authorities to obtain a contract related to the Padma bridge project. Since the matter was not yet ripe for the Bank to take its own action, it shared the information with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who proceeded to raid the company’s offices. Canada has now charged two company officials under the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act.
Evidence is shared in the other direction too. If a national authority like the U.S. Department of Justice of UK Serious Fraud Office obtains information of wrongdoing related to a World Bank financed project, it might very well share it with the Bank. The World Bank has based several successful sanctions on such evidence.
Joint Operations. It is not uncommon for World Bank investigators to engage in joint operations with national authorities. Perhaps a national authority will interview a witness and invite the World Bank investigator to sit in, assist, and use any evidence obtained. World Bank staff might also serve as expert witnesses in governments’ cases.
Conditioning Further Support. It is certainly true that many governments might choose not to do anything when provided with evidence of corruption. The Bank can sometimes exercise unique leverage in these situations. The Padma bridge project is illustrative. After the Bank provided information to the Bangladeshi Government, the country opened and then quickly closed a case. The Bank sent more information and Bangladesh re-opened the case. Then the Bank suspended the $1.2 billion loan for the bridge and made any continued support contingent on a thorough investigation into wrongdoing. The Bank even put together a committee of experts to monitor Bangladesh’s progress and report back on whether the investigation was full, fair, complete, and adequate. Bangladesh is now investigating the matter.
Coordination with national authorities takes on additional relevance when one considers that, in most complex bribery schemes, activity is usually not confined to just one country. There are usually several countries with which to cooperate and encourage action. For example, bribes might be paid in one country, funds might be parked in another, and evidence might be found in yet a third. The multinational company paying the bribe might be based in a fourth. Goods at issue could be sourced from a fifth. A consultant from yet another country might be implicated. All of a sudden, the Bank has six countries to approach.
Each implicated country might have a different interest in taking up the matter. Maybe one already has a file on the wrongdoer and is looking for the final piece of evidence to bring a case. Another might wish to seize assets within its borders related to the matter. Another could have a political motivation to proceed against a certain industry that has not yet been targeted and that is known for wrongdoing. Many countries might still have no interest in getting involved whatsoever.
The FCPAméricas blog is not intended to provide legal advice to its readers. The blog entries and posts include only the thoughts, ideas, and impressions of its authors and contributors, and should be considered general information only about the Americas, anti-corruption laws including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, issues related to anti-corruption compliance, and any other matters addressed. Nothing in this publication should be interpreted to constitute legal advice or services of any kind. Furthermore, information found on this blog should not be used as the basis for decisions or actions that may affect your business; instead, companies and businesspeople should seek legal counsel from qualified lawyers regarding anti-corruption laws or any other legal issue. The Editor and the contributors to this blog shall not be responsible for any losses incurred by a reader or a company as a result of information provided in this publication. For more information, please contact Info@MattesonEllisLaw.com.
The author gives his permission to link, post, distribute, or reference this article for any lawful purpose, provided attribution is made to the author.
© 2013 Matteson Ellis Law, PLLC
Post authored by Matteson Ellis, FCPAméricas Founder & Editor
Comments
November 13th, 2012 at 9:12 pm
[…] deferred-prosecution agreements in the U.K. will really make a difference. The FCPAmericas blog explains how powerful the World Bank can be in enforcing its sanctions […]
November 13th, 2012 at 9:58 pm
[…] deferred-prosecution agreements in the U.K. will really make a difference. The FCPAmericas blog explains how powerful the World Bank can be in enforcing its sanctions […]