Harry Cassin
Publisher and Editor
Andy Spalding
Senior Editor
Jessica Tillipman
Senior Editor
Bill Steinman
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
Frederic Bourke won’t face Foreign Corrupt Practices Act charges after all. He was indicted in May 2005 with Victor Kozeny and David Pinkerton over an alleged plan to bribe officials from Azerbaijan from 1997 to 1999 in connection with the privatization of the state oil company.… Continue Reading
Internal controls and books and records violations; impermissible “facilitating payments” to customs officials and bribes to airline employees
California-based Con-way, Inc., a global freight forwarder, has paid a $300,000 penalty and accepted a cease and desist order to settle a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement action with the Securities and Exchange Commission.… Continue Reading
Boy, were we wrong. Syriana deserves our top rating of 5 Red Flags — not as a movie, but as a compliance tool. A thoughtful reader set us straight. Our sincere thanks to Daniel, whose imaginative use of Syriana we heartily endorse.… Continue Reading
Swiss police last week arrested a former manager of French engineering giant Alstom and searched for evidence as part of a corruption and money-laundering investigation. Offices near Zurich and in Baden were raided, as were homes in several cantons.… Continue Reading
Just a generation ago, the idea that China would host the greatest Olympics ever would have been outlandish. Black bicycles, gray Mao suits, grim faces — it was a closed country, both fearful and feared.… Continue Reading
Syriana is the best Hollywood movie ever made about the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. It’s also the only Hollywood movie ever made about the FCPA. But despite enthusiastic support for the film by some of our readers, we can’t give it top marks in our Sleaze in the Cinema category.… Continue Reading
People who’ve violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act fall into two categories: those who had criminal intent from the start, and those who stumbled into the offense. It’s the second group — the regular folks who’ve done a bad thing — who are so tragic.… Continue Reading
Compliance concerns have forced Swiss logistics giant Panalpina to withdraw completely from the Nigerian domestic market. It said in its 2008 half-yearly report (available here) that it will sell its local operations to a Nigerian group and retain no ownership or operating interest.… Continue Reading
Scandal-plagued Siemens now faces possible charges of public corruption in Argentina. Police in Buenos Aires raided Siemens’ office there in connection with a bribery investigation. The United States, Greece, Italy, China, Hungary, Indonesia and Norway are also investigating whether Siemens broke anti-corruption laws.… Continue Reading
Among the many great movies about public corruption, one of our favorites is “The Big Easy.” Released in 1987, it’s set in New Orleans — the most unique (and least American) of all American cities.… Continue Reading
The mailbag this week brought the following question from KER:
… Continue ReadingThe FCPA prohibits payments to a third party while “knowing” that all or a portion of the payment will go directly or indirectly to a foreign official.
We were moved — very moved — by the opening scenes from the Beijing Olympics. Part of the fun is seeing the fabulous changes in China since our first visit there 15 years ago.… Continue Reading
