WASHINGTON DC, 3rd December, 2010: The World Bank Group Friday announced the debarment (udelukkelse) of two companies and, separately, the first-ever World Bank cross-debarments of firms, for engaging in corrupt and fraudulent (svigagtige) practices in development projects.
The announcement comes on the eve of the International Corruption Hunters Network meeting, which takes place December 6-8 at the World Bank’s headquarters, the Bank stated in a press release.
Kwaplah International Trading Co., Inc., a US-based company, and its owner, Mr. Sherlock Mahn, together with any organization they directly or indirectly control, have been debarred for 12 years for engaging in corrupt and fraudulent practices in Bank-financed projects implemented in the DR Congo, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Ghana, Gambia and Liberia.
This is the second-longest debarment since the Bank began sanctioning firms in 1999. In making its decision, the World Bank’s Sanctions Board took into account the multiplicity of sanctionable practices committed by the company among other considerations.
In addition, the World Bank Sanctions Board debarred another company, “Elkri” for three years for engaging in frau-dulent practices in a Bank-financed project in Albania.
The debarment may be reduced to two years upon implementation of an effective corporate compliance program.
The World Bank also announced, that it is sanctioning 12 companies previously debarred by the Asian Development Bank for engaging in fraudulent and corruption practices in some of their projects.
