Police reopen OZ, Cochlear bribery cases
THE Australian Federal Police will reopen corruption inquiries into major Australian companies OZ Minerals and Cochlear, after searing criticism that it was lax in its investigations. … OZ Minerals will be targeted following discussions with the OECD about the AFP’s previous investigation of alleged foreign bribery in OZ Minerals’ Cambodian goldmining operations. In 2011, The Cambodia Daily newspaper alleged OZ Minerals paid more than $US1 million to three women on the board of its joint-venture partner Shin Ha when it bought the company in 2009. The women were closely related to Cambodian officials, some of whom worked in the mining ministry, the newspaper alleged. According to the OECD report, Australian Federal Police dismissed the allegations before a formal investigation was opened ”because it received information from the AFP’s overseas network that the transaction had been undertaken with due diligence and that all payments were made at the joint venture partner’s request.” …
http://www.smh.com.au/business/police-reopen-oz-cochlear-bribery-cases-20130112-2cmrt.html
