SNC-Lavalin corruption and fraud.

[GostHacked]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/snc-lavalin-subsidiaries-charged-with-corruption-fraud-in-libyan-business-probe-1.2963025

I am posting the whole article, as it is short for the moment.

SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. and two of its divisions have been charged with corruption and fraud, the RCMP said Thursday.

The divisions are SNC-Lavalin Construction Inc. and its subsidiary, SNC-Lavalin International Inc., police said.

"The alleged criminal acts surfaced as part of the ongoing criminal investigation into the company's business dealings in Libya," the RCMP said in a release.

RCMP allege that between August 2001 and September 2011, the company and its subsidiaries gave almost $47.9 million to Libyan government officials to influence government decisions.

Police also allege that during the same time period, the company defrauded the Libyan government and other entities of "property, money or valuable security or service" worth almost $129.8 million.

"Corruption of foreign officials undermines good governance and sustainable economic development," said RCMP Assistant Commissioner Gilles Michaud.

"The charges laid today demonstrate how the RCMP continues to support Canada's international commitments and safeguard its integrity and reputation," Michaud said in a release.

Seems like the company stole from Canadian taxpayers and they also stole from the Libyan governments. And how do they get away with it without the Canadian government involved somehow?

[Keepitsimple]

Good to see charges finally laid - but this is a saga that's been ongoing for over a decade. In 2013, the World Bank banned SNC from bidding on any projects funded by them for 10 years. At the same time, the Canadian government, through CIDA also banned SNC from any CIDA projects. And now - some formal charges can start to work their way through the courts. I don't hold much hope that there will be any serious punishment......but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Edited February 19, 2015 by Keepitsimple

[overthere]

Haven't some SNC-Lavalin executives already been charged in this case?

[WWWTT]

SNC-Lavaline also did some power projects around the GTA (Goreway-Brampton, Portlands-Toronto)

These projects I believe went way over budget during the McGuinty reign.

I wonder if these charges will lead to any Canadian politicians or any domestic connections? Or if there is an ongoing investigation along those lines?

WWWTT

[GostHacked]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/snc-lavalin-bribery-case-threatens-billions-in-federal-contracts-1.2964018

This should be a big deal.

Federal contracts worth $4.7 billion

CBC News made requests under access to information to more than 60 federal ministries and Crown corporations for details on public contracts granted to SNC-Lavalin and its many subsidiaries between 2004 and 2014.

Public Works, which administers many of the government contracts, released documents showing SNC companies won more than $4.7 billion in deals during the decade, across many departments, including National Defence, the Correctional Service and Public Works. That figure does not include millions more in contracts granted by independent Crown corporations, such as a $296-million contract SNC has with CBC/Radio-Canada to maintain all of its facilities across the country from 2002 through to 2020.

Billions. The federal government must have known about this. As the corruption has dated back to 2001.

Alleged bribes date back to 2001

Many of the charges against the company date back to 2001, but all that does, Scilipoti said, is cast doubt on previous SNC administrations.

The charges show "that the misconduct that's being alleged was pervasive to a long period of time, among a number of management teams," Scilipoti said.

So far, only past executive vice presidents of construction -- Sami Bebawi and Riadh Ben Aissa -- are the main characters to face charges with respect to Libya. Former company patriarch and CEO Jacque Lamarres, who was in charge of the company until 2009, has not been charged, nor have others within SNC's hierarchy who had to vet the deals and release the money.