Shruti Shah and Marian Currinder: Friends don’t shower money and gifts on friends (FCPA Blog)
November 27, 2017The McDonnell decision has likely made it easier for politicians to engage in ethically questionable behavior. In the absence of much stricter gift laws or precedent changing court decisions, what can be done? For one, politicians can simply pledge to not accept extravagant gifts from their friends. Read more
C4I Calls on President Trump to Lead by Example
November 17, 2017Coalition for Integrity calls on President Trump to fully separate himself from his businesses and be transparent about his past business dealings, including at the Trump Ocean Club International Hotel and Tower in Panama. The Narco-A-Lago story also highlights how essential it is that people involved in the real estate industry conduct due diligence on buyers’ identities and the sources of their funds to avoid misuse of the property market by money launderers and other criminals. Read more
Shruti Shah: Every big corruption story features anonymous companies (FCPA Blog)
November 16, 2017How much do “ordinary folk” benefit from secret offshore structures when the main beneficiaries are a wealthy minority, often expats? The ability to conceal illicitly obtained funds fuels corruption, breeds instability and diverts resources from those who should benefit. Read more
C4I Urges Beneficial Ownership Disclosure Following Paradise Papers Leak
November 6, 2017Coalition for Integrity calls for collection of beneficial ownership information by all jurisdictions following the massive Paradise Papers leak. Read more
C4I on the Paradise Papers and Shell Companies
November 6, 2017Shruti Shah speaks with the BBC about the Paradise Papers and shell companies. Watch the interview
Shruti Shah: Paradise Papers show need to close beneficial owner loopholes (FCPA Blog)
November 6, 2017While shell companies have legitimate uses, their opacity makes them a favorite tool for tax evaders, money launderers, corrupt public officials and other criminals. The leaks also shine a light on the role of offshore tax havens. Read more
When Does a Friend’s Gift Become a Bribe? (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
October 31, 2017U.S. Senator Bob Menendez is the latest high-profile politician to claim that the extravagant gifts he accepted over a period of several years were nothing more than presents from a good friend. When are gifts from friends considered bribes? The jury’s job is made more complicated by the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to narrow the definition of “official actions” in corruption cases. Read more
C4I Board Urges Virginia Gubernatorial Candidates to Come Clean
October 1, 2017Coalition board members Alan Larson and Michael Hershman urge Virginia gubernatorial candidates Ralph Northam and Ed Gillespie to lead by example and disclose their campaign and personal finances. Read more
ISO 37001: Coalition for Integrity’s recommendations for companies considering certification
August 21, 2017In general, any independent review exercise, whether it leads to a certification or not, can help companies take a critical look at their program, detect potential gaps, and ultimately help strengthen their compliance program. However, business is not static and a certification is not an assurance that the program will continue operating effectively even as the corporate environment changes. Read more
Did a rich Miamian help rig the Olympic site selection? Investigators want to know (Miami Herald)
August 17, 2017Shruti Shah of the anti-corruption nonprofit Transparency International USA, said being connected to several businesses is legal, but makes it difficult to get a comprehensive look at companies. “The problem is you can open companies without having to disclose who really beneficially owns these companies,” she said. Read more