Amazon is said to have launched an investigation after a whistleblower complained against its legal representatives for their role in allegedly bribing Indian officials. The development was reported by MorningContext Publishing.
When TOI contacted Amazon, the company said, “We have zero tolerance for corruption. We take allegations of unfair practices seriously, investigate them thoroughly and take appropriate action. We are not commenting on the specific allegations or the status of any investigation at this time.”
The MorningContext article said Amazon had sent its senior attorney on leave pending an investigation. It also said that an independent lawyer in Delhi, who works with Amazon as an outside counsel, was the one who funneled money paid by Amazon to bribe government officials.
The allegations, if true, are a violation of United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which prohibits the payment of bribes to foreign officials to help them obtain or maintain business.
Over the years, the US has fined several companies in India for bribery. In 2016, Cognizant Technology Solutions disclosed the corruption issue found in India to the US SEC. The company was to pay $25 million in fines. The case pertains to Cognizant’s premises in Chennai where a senior Tamil Nadu government official was allegedly bribed to facilitate construction on the premises.
According to a report by law firm Foley &, others against whom FCPA enforcement action has been taken for bribery in India include Embraer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Mondelez/Cadbury, Oracle, Tyco International, Dow Chemical, Pride International, Textron and Diageo. Lardner.
The SEC said Embraer paid approximately $6 million to an agent in India in connection with the sale of three highly specialized military aircraft. Houston-based offshore oil drilling company Pride International fined $56.1 million after paying for favorable administrative judicial decisions regarding customs issues in India.
The SEC accused Diageo of making $2.7 million in improper payments to government officials in India, Thailand and South Korea.
Cadbury/Mondelez International paid a fine of $13 million for violations, including one in India where it allegedly made illegal payments to obtain government licenses and approvals for a chocolate factory in Baddi.
When TOI contacted Amazon, the company said, “We have zero tolerance for corruption. We take allegations of unfair practices seriously, investigate them thoroughly and take appropriate action. We are not commenting on the specific allegations or the status of any investigation at this time.”
The MorningContext article said Amazon had sent its senior attorney on leave pending an investigation. It also said that an independent lawyer in Delhi, who works with Amazon as an outside counsel, was the one who funneled money paid by Amazon to bribe government officials.
The allegations, if true, are a violation of United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which prohibits the payment of bribes to foreign officials to help them obtain or maintain business.
Over the years, the US has fined several companies in India for bribery. In 2016, Cognizant Technology Solutions disclosed the corruption issue found in India to the US SEC. The company was to pay $25 million in fines. The case pertains to Cognizant’s premises in Chennai where a senior Tamil Nadu government official was allegedly bribed to facilitate construction on the premises.
According to a report by law firm Foley &, others against whom FCPA enforcement action has been taken for bribery in India include Embraer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Mondelez/Cadbury, Oracle, Tyco International, Dow Chemical, Pride International, Textron and Diageo. Lardner.
The SEC said Embraer paid approximately $6 million to an agent in India in connection with the sale of three highly specialized military aircraft. Houston-based offshore oil drilling company Pride International fined $56.1 million after paying for favorable administrative judicial decisions regarding customs issues in India.
The SEC accused Diageo of making $2.7 million in improper payments to government officials in India, Thailand and South Korea.
Cadbury/Mondelez International paid a fine of $13 million for violations, including one in India where it allegedly made illegal payments to obtain government licenses and approvals for a chocolate factory in Baddi.
.