News and commentary about white-collar crime, enforcement, and compliance
Harry Cassin
Publisher and Editor
Andy Spalding
Senior Editor
Jessica Tillipman
Senior Editor
Richard L. Cassin
Editor at Large
Elizabeth K. Spahn
Editor Emeritus
Cody Worthington
Contributing Editor
Julie DiMauro
Contributing Editor
Thomas Fox
Contributing Editor
Marc Alain Bohn
Contributing Editor
Bill Waite
Contributing Editor
Shruti J. Shah
Contributing Editor
Russell A. Stamets
Contributing Editor
Richard Bistrong
Contributing Editor
Eric Carlson
Contributing Editor
Bill Steinman
Contributing Editor
Charges Involve Fraud, FCPA Books and Records Violations and Improper Promotional Expenses
Bermuda-based heavy equipment maker Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited said on October 31, 2007 that it resolved fraud and U.S. Foreign Corrupt 
Practices Act violations in connection with illegal payments by subsidiaries to Iraqi officials under the U.N.… Continue Reading
Faro Technologies, Inc.’s third quarter disclosure describes a not-yet-effective deferred or non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In March 2006, Florida-based Faro — which designs, develops, and markets software and portable, computerized measurement devices — self-disclosed to prosecutors potential violations in China of the U.S.… Continue Reading
It requires 54 procedures, takes 704 days, and costs 3,788% of annual per capita income to obtain the licenses and permits needed to build a warehouse in Moscow. So says the World Bank’s Doing Business 2008.… Continue Reading
It’s a material world — at least for auditors, public-company executives and securities lawyers. Material losses. Material misstatements and omissions. Material adverse changes. But wait. When it comes to the books and records provisions of the U.S.… Continue Reading
In a tie with Gambia, Togo and Russia, Indonesia ranks 143rd out of 179 on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index. That lowly score warns us to expect some world-class silliness when it comes to red tape, which always walks hand-in-hand with corruption.… Continue Reading
The Bahamas News Online Edition (The Bahama Journal) reports today that the Supreme Court there has ruled against the extradition of Victor Kozeny (left). The ruling means Kozeny is no longer under arrest in the Bahamas, which had detained him at the request of the U.S.… Continue Reading
Schlumberger N.V., the world’s biggest oil and gas services company, is among the dozen or more firms in that industry being investigated in connection with Panalpina’s freight-forwarding and customs clearance practices.… Continue Reading
A sharp-eyed reader of our post Ten Elements Of An Effective Compliance Program suggested in a comment that it “may also be wise to take a peek at DOJ Opinion Release 04-02, which has a bit more FCPA-specific guidance.… Continue Reading
Signs that the influence of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act is felt around the world come today from India and Nigeria.
Pradeep Akkunoor lets us know about a December 16, 2007 FCPA Conference sponsored by Indiaforensic.… Continue Reading
The purpose of an “effective compliance program” is to prevent and detect criminal conduct. Why is this important? Because an organization that violates the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act but has an “effective compliance program” is eligible for a reduced sentence — by up to 95% of the statutory penalties.… Continue Reading
A friend from Nigeria, which appears on these pages for the wrong reasons all too often, visited us this week. He gives a face and a voice to the human cost of his country’s terrible twins, red tape and corruption.… Continue Reading
