Press Release No:2012/195/SBS.WASHINGTON, December
9, 2011 - The
World Bank Group today announced another milestone in its leadership on
anticorruption with the release of the Sanctions Board Law Digest, publicly
detailing for the first time the rationale behind how the Bank Group holds
entities accountable for fraud, corruption, and other wrongdoing.
"By
holding companies and individuals accountable through a fair and robust process,
the Bank Group’s sanctions system promotes integrity and levels the playing
field for those committed to clean business practices," said
World Bank Group President Robert B.
Zoellick. "The release of the
Sanctions Board’s inaugural Law Digest is another milestone demonstrating the
Bank Group’s commitment to a fair and accountable sanctions
process."
Since
1999, the World Bank Group has sanctioned more than 450 firms and individuals
for fraud, corruption and collusion. The
independent Sanctions Board is the final decision-maker in all contested
cases. Until now, the decision-making
process behind the sanctions was kept confidential. In a major step toward greater transparency
and accountability, the new Law Digest presents information about past Sanctions
Board decisions that illustrates the types of cases received and the legal
principles the Sanctions Board has applied in deciding liability and sanctions.
This is a first among multilateral development institutions.
By
capturing past cases in the Law Digest and publishing new Sanctions Board
decisions going forward, the public can see how carefully the World Bank
considers fraud and corruption allegations in Bank-financed projects and how the
institution resolves these cases.
Creating more openness in the Bank Group’s sanctions process should also help
deter future wrongdoing.
"This
Law Digest will further the Sanctions Board's goal to uphold the rule of law in
the fights against corruption and poverty," said
Fathi Kemicha, Chair of the Sanctions
Board. "This Law Digest will create a
valuable resource for those within the Bank Group, for those firms and
individuals doing business with the Bank Group, and for our partners in the
international community."
For a
copy of the Law Digest please visit the website at http://go.worldbank.org/S9PFFMD6X0
About
the World Bank’s Investigations and Sanctions
· One
way the World Bank tackles fraud and corruption in Bank-financed projects is
through the use of administrative sanctions against firms and individuals found
to have engaged in wrongdoing. Sanctions
are applied through a two-tier process.
· The
Sanctions Board, an independent tribunal with a majority of external members and
an external Chair, serves as final decision-maker in all contested cases. The Sanctions Board takes decisions based on
an adversarial process that includes written arguments and evidence from both
parties and, upon request of either party, administrative hearings.
· Sanctions
proceedings are initiated by the Integrity Vice Presidency (INT), which
investigates allegations; and the Evaluation and Suspension Officer (EO), a Bank
official charged with independently assessing the sufficiency of INT’s evidence
in the first instance.
· Possible
sanctions are: Public Letter of Reprimand, Debarment, Conditional Non-Debarment,
Debarment with Conditional Release, and/or Restitution.
· Since
1999, the Bank has sanctioned 456 firms and individuals. (Visit
www.worldbank.org/debarr for the current list of debarred entities.)
Contacts:
For
Broadcast Requests:
Mehreen Sheikh, (202) 458-7336, msheikh1@worldbank.org
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