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Former Thailand Tourism Chief Sentenced to 50 Years for Accepting Bribes
On March 29, the former governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand was reportedly sentenced in Thailand to 50 years in prison for accepting $1.8 million in bribes from 2002 to 2007 from two U.S. filmmakers in exchange for rights to organize the Bangkok International Film Festival. The former tourism chief, Juthamas Siriwan, was also ordered to forfeit the bribe money. Her daughter, Jittisopa, received a 44-year prison sentence for her own involvement. In 2009, the U.S. filmmakers, Gerald and Patricia Green, who paid the bribes, were convicted in the U.S. on charges of FCPA violations. A U.S. federal court sentenced the Greens to six months incarceration, three years of supervised release, and $250,000 in restitution.
Ms. Siriwan and her daughter were also indicted in the U.S. in January 2009 for the same underlying conduct. The indictment raised interesting questions about the United States pursuing corruption on the “demand side,” in light of the fact that the FCPA does not criminalize the receipt of bribes. The indictment instead alleged money laundering violations and related charges. Ms. Siriwan moved to dismiss the U.S. indictment based on the double jeopardy provision of the Thai-US extradition treaty. The decision on her motion was stayed, pending the outcome of the Thai prosecution.
General Cable Discloses Reserve for Potential Disgorgement to SEC over FCPA
Recently, General Cable Corp. disclosed in an 8-K/A that it had accrued a $24 million reserve related to potential disgorgement the company anticipates having to pay the SEC related to an investigation of its sales activities in Angola. The reserve did not include any provision for potential fines or penalties. General Cable previously announced both the inception and near resolution of its internal investigation into potential FCPA concerns in Angola, Thailand, India, and Portugal (see prior FCPA Scorecard coverage).
Bio-Rad Settles FCPA Claims With SEC and DOJ
On November 3, Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. agreed to pay a total of $55 million to settle DOJ and SEC allegations that the company violated the FCPA in Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam. According the SEC's cease-and-desist order, subsidiaries of the bio-medical instrument manufacturer paid $7.5 million in bribes in Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam from 2005 to 2010 in order to win business in violation of Section 30A of the FCPA, which resulted in $35 million in improper profits for the company. Some of the payments were disguised as commissions to foreign agents, in situations where the "agents had no employees and no capacity to perform the purported services for Bio-Rad." The company also allegedly had an "atmosphere of secrecy." Bio-Rad self-disclosed the violations to the government in 2010. As part of the resolution, the company reached a Non-Prosecution Agreement with the DOJ regarding activities in Russia and agreed to a $14.35 million criminal penalty related to books and records and internal controls violations. The resolution with the SEC involved the payment of $40.7 million in disgorgement and pre-judgment interest regarding anti-bribery, books and records, and internal controls violations related to Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Of note, and continuing the trend of cross-border cooperation, the SEC in its press release disclosed that numerous international entities had assisted its investigation, including the "Bank of Lithuania, Financial and Capital Market Commission of Latvia, and British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission." Underscoring the issue, following public disclosure of Bio-Rad's settlement with the SEC regarding alleged payments in Vietnam, news reports indicate that Vietnam's Ministry of Health has ordered a review of hospital purchases from Bio-Rad, and asked for information and assistance from US authorities.
General Cable Announces FCPA Internal Investigation Near Completion
Just a month after announcing its internal investigation of possible FCPA violations, news reports indicate that General Cable Corporation's review will be completed or substantially completed by the first quarter of 2015. The company also announced that it "plans to exit all of its Asia Pacific and African manufacturing operations," although it did not link the exit — which affects nine plants in Asia and five plants in Africa, and approximately 17% of its total sales — to its FCPA investigation. In September, the Kentucky-based cable manufacturer announced that it was investigating its payment practices with respect to employees of public utility companies in Angola, Thailand, India and Portugal due to possible FCPA concerns. News reports indicate that, to date, the company has spent millions on the review, which has included a review of over 450,000 documents and interviews of over 20 individuals. The company also disclosed that it was cooperating with investigations by the DOJ and SEC.
General Cable Investigates its Angola, Thailand, Indian, and Portugal Operations
In a Form 8-K filed on September 22, General Cable Corporation stated that it is reviewing its payment practices with respect to employees of public utility companies in Angola, Thailand, India and Portugal due to possible FCPA concerns. The cable manufacturer, which is based in Kentucky, determined that "certain employees in [its] Portugal and Angola subsidiaries directly or indirectly made payments at various times from 2002 through 2013 to officials of Angola government-owned public utilities that raise concerns under the FCPA and possibly under the laws of other jurisdictions." The investigation also covers General Cable's use and payment of agents in Thailand and India, which the company also believes may have implications under the FCPA or other laws. According to General Cable's filing, it voluntarily disclosed the issues to the SEC and the DOJ, whose investigations are ongoing.
Score Card: SEC Charges Diageo PLC with Widespread FCPA Violations
The SEC charged Diageo PLC, one of the worlds largest producers of premium alcoholic beverages, with widespread FCPA violations for more than six years of actions in India, Thailand, and South Korea.