U.K. Serious Fraud Office Looks for Ways to Improve Handling of Cases
The UK’s Serious Fraud Office has outlined several steps it may take – including hiring paralegals to help review documents – to address complaints about how it engages with staff and works its cases. One report by an independent government inspector said the SFO’s sharp focus on delivery of case work had led to a […]
French Anti-Corruption Agency Publishes its Practical Guide on Corporate Gifts and Entertainment Policies
On September 11, 2020, the French Anti-Corruption Agency published its Practical Guide to corporate gifts and entertainment policies. The guide provides recommendations to assist companies in developing and implementing an effective gifts and entertainment policy. Read the full post at Jones Day
Appeals Court Upholds Bribery Conviction of Alstom Network
The Criminal Division of the UK Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction of the British subsidiary of French power and transportation company Alstom, over a bribery case related to an infrastructure contract in Tunisia. The court found that “directing minds” of the company do not need to be present for a corporate defendant to […]
Flavor Company Says Subsidiary Managers Knew About Improper Payments
New York-based International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. has confirmed that senior managers in its Israeli subsidiary Frutarom Industries Ltd. knew about improper payments in Ukraine and Russia. The company disclosed the potential bribery in August 2019 and launched an internal investigation, following its acquisition of the company in October 2018. The company said it has […]
Former Unaoil Exec Pleads Guilty to Corruption in Iraq Bribery Case
Basil Al Jarah, a former executive with Monaco-based oil and gas consultancy Unaoil, has pleaded guilty to charges to bribery and conspiracy in relation to a scheme to obtain contracts while serving as Unaoil’s partner in Iraq. Al Jarah’s co-defendants have maintained their pleas of not guilty and are awaiting trial. Read the full post […]
SEC Probes Raytheon Over Potentially Improper Payments
The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating possible improper payments made by Raytheon and its partners in the Middle East. SEC issued a subpoena seeking information from Raytheon and its joint venture with Thales SA. Regulators are seeking information about payments made in the region by the companies or any intermediaries dating back to 2014. […]
Practice Alert: What’s the Impact of China’s Year-Old Blocking Statute?
Enacted in October 2018, China’s International Criminal Judicial Assistance Law blocks disclosure of evidence obtained in China to criminal enforcement authorities outside of China in connection with a criminal matter, absent approval from the Chinese government. Now that the ICJAL has been in existence for a year, Eric Carlson and Helen Hwang provide an update […]
Former Oil Executive Indicted in Bribery Scandal Linked to Venezuela
Federal prosecutors allege that former Citgo executive José Luis De Jongh Atencio received bribe payments of $2.5 million and tickets to big sports events from two business partners, both of whom have already pleaded guilty to their role in the scheme. De Jongh is a dual U.S.-Venezuelan citizen, and was a procurement officer for Citgo, […]
SFO Issues Guidance for Corporate Cooperation
The UK Serious Fraud Office has published a five-page memo that tells companies the steps they should take if they decide to cooperate with the agency in an investigation. The guidance doesn’t guarantee leniency in return for going “above and beyond what the law requires”, but says that charging decisions will take it into account. […]
Jailed French Businessman Warns Chinese Companies about US’ “Weaponized” Anti-Corruption Law
Frédéric Pierucci is promoting the Chinese version of his book Le Piège Américain (The American Trap), a warning to Chinese companies to be careful of the United States’ economic tactics. “Chinese companies should build a compliance risk management system soon to protect themselves from the US’ Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the first law banning bribery of foreign […]