(October 29, 2002) The Lesotho High Court fined Canadian engineering firm Acres International R22,5million in a landmark case yesterday for bribing a top official in a major water project in Lesotho.
Canadian company fined in Lesotho
(October 29, 2002) Acres International, the Canadian engineering consulting company, was yesterday fined R22.5m ($2.23m, €2.28m, £1.43m) in the Lesotho High Court for bribery linked to a World Bank-funded southern Africa water supply contract.
Canadian company fined £1.6m for Lesotho bribes
(October 29, 2002) Acres’ sentence is the first from a series of unprecedented trials of some of the world’s leading dam designers and builders. Acres said it would appeal. If it loses it may be banned from bidding for future projects funded by the World Bank.
Bribery firm protests its innocence
(October 29, 2002) The case marks the first time that bribe-givers, as well as takers, have found themselves in the dock in a high-profile international project.
Acres fined $3.4-million for bribing project’s CEO
(October 29, 2002) Judge Mahapela Lehohla rebuked Acres, convicted last month on two bribery counts, for showing "not the slightest hint of remorse" during its trial and for subsequent comments that "bordered on contempt of court.
Lesotho court fines Acres: Oakville firm hit with $3.5 million bribery penalty
(October 29, 2002) I think the judge is sending a clear message to other companies that bribery doesn’t pay," said Patricia Adams, executive director of Probe International, a Toronto-based organization that monitors Canada’s aid and trade. "With tough penalties like this, companies will get the message that it’s not worth it.
Western firm fined for African bribery
(October 28, 2002) A Canadian transnational corporation has been hit with a multimillion-dollar fine for bribing its way into a lucrative World Bank-funded African dam project. It is the first to be convicted and sentenced, and now faces a fine of 22m maloti.
Firm faces fine for bribery in Lesotho as UN prepares Convention on Corruption
(October 28, 2002) Maseru, the sleepy capital of an African mountain kingdom, seems an unlikely theatre for an unfolding bribery scandal involving Western multinationals —among them Canada’s Acres International Ltd.— that has rocked the global construction industry, reports the Globe and Mail (Canada). The Oakville, Ontario-based engineering firm, convicted last month of bribing the former head of one of Africa’s biggest water projects in return for contracts worth $21 million, was in Lesotho High Court on Monday for sentencing.
Court sends clear message
(October 28, 2002) "There is a total absence of remorse. All that Acres appears to regret was that it was caught," said Judge Mahapela Lehohla.
Canadian multinational fined US$2.25 million for bribing African official
(October 28, 2002) Lesotho High Court has fined Acres International US$2.25 million (22,580,091 maloti) for bribing the former head of a multibillion-dollar dam project to secure contracts.
Canadian firm fined R22m in Lesotho
(October 28, 2002) Acres International, was fined R22.5-million in the Lesotho High Court today for bribery linked to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project that supplies water to South Africa.
Acres International to appeal Lesotho court sentence
(October 28, 2002) Acres International said that it was disturbed and dismayed by the Lesotho trial judge’s sentence as it was by his earlier unjustified decision. Acres said it would continue its preparation to appeal the decision and the sentence.
Acres fined US$2.25M in water bribery case
(October 28, 2002) The court wants to send a clear message that companies wanting contracts should not even think of taking a risk in trying to bribe officials, said Judge Mahapela Lehohla before imposing the fine. Engineering firm will appeal verdict, sentencing.
Acres faces fine for bribe to CEO
(October 28, 2002) Engineering company maintains innocence, plans to appeal Lesotho verdict.
Acres vows appeal
(October 28, 2002) Acres International Ltd. said Monday it was "disturbed and dismayed" by a $2.2-million (U.S.) fine levelled by a Lesotho trial judge following a bribery conviction in a major African water project and vowed to appeal both the court’s verdict and sentence.
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