Asian Development Bank blacklists firms, individuals

Manila -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Tuesday it has banned 37 firms and 32 individuals from transacting with the organisation due to fraud, corruption or misconduct in 2006.

The Manila-based ADB said the firms and individuals were found to have violated bank policy in participating in ADB-funded activities and projects last year.

Thirty-four firms were debarred for periods ranging from one to seven years, and three firms for 10 years, the ADB said in a statement.

"Fourteen individuals were debarred indefinitely and 17 for periods ranging from one to seven years, while one person was reprimanded," it added.

The ADB does not publicly name those in its debarment lists.

The bank said the most common form of "fraudulent practice investigated in 2006 was misrepresentation and falsification of documents".

"Collusive practices account for 46 percent of the corrupt practices cases," it said.

The ADB said its integrity division received a total of 171 complaints of fraud, corruption and misconduct in 2006, slightly down from 199 in 2005.

"Out of the complaints received during the year, ADB's integrity division began 108 investigations, of which 81 were closed after concluding further investigation was not warranted," it said.

More than half of the cases opened in 2006 involved corrupt practices, 42 percent fraud and six percent conflicts of interest, staff misconduct and internal administration violations.