WASHINGTON, October 19, 2011 — The World Bank Group today debarred the UK Company "The Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administration Limited" and its affiliates for a period of six months for a fraudulent practice in 2006 in relation to a World Bank-executed project.
This debarment resulted from the World Bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency’s (INT) investigation that revealed that the company misrepresented the availability of a key consultant to work on an awarded contract under the project.
"The World Bank is committed to ensuring that scarce development resources are used for their intended purposes," said Leonard McCarthy, World Bank Integrity Vice President. "When we find fraudulent conduct, we will hold the wrongdoer accountable and work to ensure greater integrity and compliance going forward."
This debarment action is part of a negotiated resolution agreement which will be imposed on the company and 23 of its affiliates: Greenshields, Cowie & Co. Ltd., Four Millbank Nominees Ltd., Four Millbank Holdings Ltd., Crown Agents Services Ltd., Great Peter Nominees Ltd., Crown Agents Services (India) Pvt Ltd., Crown Agents (India) Pvt Ltd., Crown Agents Investment Management Ltd., Crown Agents Bank Ltd., Greenshields Cowie (U.S.A.) Inc., Crown Agents International Ltd., Crown Agents SA (Proprietary) Ltd., Crown Agents Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd., Crown Agents Southern Africa Consulting Services (Pvt) Ltd., Crown Agents Kenya Limited, Crown Agents Uganda Limited, Crown Agents Mozambique LDA, Crown Agents Services (Tanzania) Limited, Crown Agents USA, Inc., Crown Agents Mongolia LLC (Subsidiary of Crown Agents USA, Inc), Crown Agents Ghana Limited, JCF Nominees Limited, and Crown Agents Nigeria Ltd.
In addition, the company will be required to review and, if necessary, revamp its corporate integrity compliance and ethics program in line with World Bank standards. As part of the settlement, the company will cooperate with INT on other World Bank investigations.
The Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations Limited and its affiliates cannot be awarded a contract, or otherwise participate in new activities under World Bank Group-financed or executed projects during the debarment period. The debarment following this negotiated resolution agreement is limited to the World Bank Group only.
