First case of corruption in private sector busted

A local executive is suspected of breaching the new law on corruption in the private sector. It was the first case busted by the Commission against Corruption (CCAC) since the law came into force last year.
The case has been sent to the Public Prosecution Office. According to the evidence gathered by the anti-graft buster, the suspect works for a construction management company and is responsible for tendering a contract for a proposed large-scale construction project, as well as its management.
“The defendant has had, within his functions in the company, access to data under commercial confidentiality. In particular, the value of all competing bids and the opinion of the consulting company,” CCAC said yesterday.
“In mid-January, the defendant met with an employee of one of the bidders and handed him an envelope containing confidential commercial documents, whose knowledge would be advantageous to bidders at the next stage of the open tender. He asked in exchange a pecuniary advantage of 1 to 2.5 percent of the overall price of construction (between MOP 1 and 2 million),” it was added.
CCAC refused to share more details on the case, saying that it was under legal secrecy. It said that the investigation took one to two months.
Both the defendant’s employer and the company from whom the bribe was requested helped the office during the investigation. The case was launched after a complaint was lodged against the suspect.
CCAC said the enforcement of the law on corruption in the private sector has been positive up to now. A total of 100 complaints have been filed, of which around 30 were sent to the prosecutors and some are still under investigation.