There have also been developments for Brookfield Asset Management, Leighton, Hyperdynamics Corporation, Glen Defense Marine Asia Ltd., National Geographic Society, and Archer Daniels Midland.

1. French corruption reforms enacted:  The French National Assembly voted on November 5 to pass a new law against fiscal fraud and corporate tax evasion.  Among other things, the new law imposes heavier penalties in cases of corruption and misuse of company assets.  Late last month, France created the new Central Office for fighting against Corruption and Financial Offences, which will target white collar crime, tax fraud and bribery and money laundering offenses.
2. DOJ and SEC predict more FCPA settlements by year's end:  At last week's American Conference Institute's International FCPA Conference, Charles Duross, deputy chief of the FCPA unit of the DOJ Criminal Division's Fraud Section, said that the government had a large number of open FCPA investigations.  He predicted some potentially major criminal actions involving significant penalties that might be announced before year's end.
3. SEC enters into its first DPA with an individual: Last Spring, the SEC announced its first non-prosecution agreement (NPA) with Ralph Lauren for FCPA misconduct. This month, the SEC announced its first deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with an individual, Scott Herckis, a former hedge fund manager, who alerted the SEC to significant investor fraud at Connecticut-based Heppelwhite Fund LP. 
4. Supreme Court hears oral argument on whistleblower case - Earlier this month, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Lawson v. FMR LLC.  The justices will have to answer the question of whether the whistleblower provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act protect employees of a privately held contractor or subcontractor of a public company.   Read more about what was said at oral arguments here.
5. Corruption trials against several high-profile individuals continue - Several big name corruption cases were splashed across headlines worldwide this month.  Among them is the UK trial of Victor Dahdaleh, the Canadian-British businessman who is accused of paying bribes of �38 million to a senior member of the Bahraini Royal Family. The trial of Germany's former president, Christian Wulff, also began this month.  Mr. Wulff is accused of receiving certain loans and benefits from wealthy friends, such as travel invitations.  Also on trial is Bernie Ecclestone, the former owner of Formula One racing, who was cross-examined this month for his involvement in making an improper payment of $44 million to a German banker in 2006 in order to facilitate the sale of a 47% stake in the sport.  Israel's top rabbi Yona Metzger was arrested for his involvement in an alleged money laundering scheme, and a senior official at a state-run Omani oil company, Juma Al Hinai, went on trial for allegedly accepting bribes from a local oil company.

This year, we have 10 days of new and exciting giveaways planned and we're giving TRACE Members exclusive access. Check your email starting December 9 for a first look at the day's giveaway before we post it anywhere else! These offers will also be posted to the TRACE Blog and shared on our Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. 

NGO Hits Israel on Foreign Bribery Prosecution Record

2 November 2013

Niv Elis, The Jerusalem Post

TRACE International is "Making Anticorruption a Goal at the Brazil World Cup"

11 November 2013

Sue Reisinger, Corporate Counsel