World Bank Sanctions Australian Company GHD Pty Ltd for Fraudulent Practices

2013-06-16

The World Bank Group announced the debarment of GHD Pty Ltd. (Australia), GHD Indonesian Operating Center and PT Global Hutama Desain (PT GHD) for a period of one year following the World Bank Sanction Board’s decision in relation to fraudulent practices in a Bank-financed infrastructure project in Indonesia.

The debarment is based on an investigation by the World Bank Integrity Vice Presidency which revealed evidence of the company’s fraudulent misconduct impacting a management consultancy contract. The one-year debarment came into effect on June 10, 2013. As a result GHD Pty Limited will not qualify for any contract financed by the World Bank Group.

"There is no excuse for international companies not to ensure they have a code of ethics and integrity that can govern their involvement in projects benefitting the poor,” said Leonard McCarthy, World Bank Integrity Vice President. “Meeting the provisions of the World Bank's compliance standards is a prerequisite to doing development business with the Bank. This case demonstrates that our commitment to detecting and investigating fraud in Bank-financed projects remains a top priority to ensure development funds reach their intended beneficiaries.”

Source: World Bank