Briefings
MISHCON'S CULTURE VS CORRUPTION DIARY
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28 July 2009
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Welcome to the July edition of Mishcon's Culture vs Corruption Diary, the object of this diary is to provide businesses and their advisors with a snapshot of what has been happening in the world of corruption in the last month.
We make no judgement whatsoever as to the morality, legality or appropriateness of the conduct which forms the subject matter of this diary. We simply aim to bring these matters to the attention of those whose responsibility it is to set ethical standards and produce business practice guidelines for the companies they work for, to allow them to make an informed decision on the best practice for their organisation.
UNITED KINGDOM
Government
The Government is to set up an expert panel to examine the threat of gambling-related corruption in British sport. The panel will be chaired by Rick Parry, former Liverpool F.C. chief executive, and will address issues concerning the integrity of sport, with particular reference to the rise in new formats of sports betting.
Paul Kelso
The Daily Telegraph, 25 June 2009
Keith McCarthy, head of anti-corruption at the Serious Fraud Office, has said that efforts to encourage companies to confess to bribery in exchange for more lenient treatment have been hampered by European Union rules. The rules ban companies from public contracts if they are found guilty of paying backhanders.
Michael Peel
Financial Times, 22 June 2009
WESTERN EUROPE
Defence
It is expected that Austria will bring corruption charges in connection with BAE arms sales. The prosecution would be the first in five years' of bribery investigations around the world. The decision follows disclosure of new documents that outline how cash from BAE was deposited in the account of Count Alfons Mensdorff-Pouilly, an Austrian aristocrat who worked undercover for the firm.
David Leigh and Rob Evans
The Guardian, 20 June 2009
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
Surveys
Transparency International has published its annual Progress Report on Enforcement of the OECD Convention. The 2009 report shows that enforcement has been extremely uneven amongst member countries. There is active enforcement in only four countries and little or no enforcement in twenty-one of the countries.
Transparency International, June 2009
CARIBBEAN
Government
The Court of Appeal is considering an application to halt the imposition of direct rule by Britain over the Turks and Caicos Islands. The court will decide whether the British government has the power to suspend the islands' government and constitution for two years and prosecute those accused of corruption. The appeal has been brought by the former prime minister of the islands, Michael Misick.
Peter Beaumont
The Guardian, 17 June 2009
NORTH AFRICA
Government
Jeffrey Tesler, a London solicitor, is fighting extradition to the United States on charges of alleged bribery of Nigerian politicians in connection with the award of contracts to Halliburton, the US construction company. Mr Tesler denies any wrongdoing.
Rob Evans and David Leigh
The Guardian, 13 June 2009
Mishcon de Reya
Mishcon's Culture vs Corruption Diary is published by the Fraud & Insolvency Group of Mishcon de Reya Solicitors. Widely recognised as the leader in the field of fraud investigations, the Group has extensive experience in conducting and/or project managing highly sensitive international investigations in respect of bribery and corruption allegations. The Group founded and runs both the Fraud Network, made up of international legal fraud specialists, and the Financial Risk Group, for risk and compliance officers.