Cinergy FCPA case: It takes ‘guts’ to make this argument.
In the ongoing FCPA case related to Cinergy’s alleged bribery of Haitian officials, their lawyer is planning to bring in Prof. Edgardo Rotman of the University of Miami Law School to make the argument that the DOJ, in enforcing the FCPA, is “denying the realities of the world” and that certain business cultures apparently require bribery before a contract can be concluded.
Cinergy’s lawyer also said that countries like China ‘allow’ bribery, putting the U.S. at a disadvantage in global trade.
Considering the fact that China has its own anti-corruption law that nearly mirrors the FCPA (and China is a member of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention working group…), I don’t think that this testimony will go too far in convincing anyone. I am anxious to read an update. Or not.
photo: Christian Van Der Henst
The FCPA ‘Bad For Business’ Argument – Corruption Currents – WSJ.