Hi there, Multinational business was under the spotlight this week with investigations into big tobacco, big banks and an unusually named method of money laundering. The UK’s Serious Fraud Office opened a formal investigation into British American Tobacco – owners of cigarette brands such as Dunhill and Lucky Strike – two years after serious corruption allegations of bribery first surfaced in Africa, thanks in part to a whistleblower and a BBC investigation. Another investigation is underway in Spain, where China’s biggest bank, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, is facing an international money laundering probe. Currently spanning China and Spain, the review could potentially expand soon to Luxembourg. Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia faced accusations that it had missed roughly 50,000 suspected money laundering transactions worth about US$500 million because of a sophisticated form of money laundering that avoids the need for parties to transfer money internationally. It’s called ‘cuckoo smurfing’. It’s clear that businesses should play a key role in fighting corruption; we suggest six ways they can do it. PS. Have you got a few minutes to fill out our survey? |