World Bank Group Debars Individual for Collusive and Fraudulent Practices

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2022 — The World Bank Group today announced the three-year debarment of an individual consultant in connection with collusive and fraudulent practices as part of the Rural Service Delivery Project (the “RSD Project”) and the Water Supply and Sanitation Development Project (the “WSSD Project”), both located in Papua New Guinea.  

 

The debarment makes Mr. Diclah Taureka, a Papua New Guinea national, ineligible to participate in projects and operations financed by institutions of the World Bank Group. It is part of a settlement agreement under which Mr. Taureka acknowledges responsibility for the underlying sanctionable practices and agrees to meet specified corporate compliance conditions as a condition for release from debarment.  

 

The RSD Project is designed to improve communities’ access to basic infrastructure and services in targeted rural areas using inclusive, participatory planning, and implementation. The WSSD Project is designed to support the development and strengthening of the planning and implementation capacity of water sector institutions, and to increase access to water supply services in selected urban towns and rural districts.  

 

According to the facts of the case, in 2019, Mr. Taureka colluded with a public official to obtain and execute a full-time, Bank-financed consulting contract with the WSSD Project while knowing he was working under another full-time, Bank-financed consulting contract with the RSD Project. Mr. Taureka also sought remuneration for full-time work for days that overlapped between the projects despite not meeting the minimum work requirements as prescribed under the respective contracts. These are collusive and fraudulent practices under the World Bank’s Consultant Guidelines. 

 

The settlement agreement provides for a reduced period of debarment in light of Mr. Taureka’s cooperation and voluntary remedial actions. As a condition for release from sanction under the terms of the settlement agreement, Mr. Taureka commits to undertake corporate ethics trainings that demonstrates a commitment to personal integrity and business ethics. In addition, any affiliate that Mr. Taureka comes to control, directly or indirectly, during the period of World Bank Group sanction will be required to implement a corporate ethics training program. Mr. Taureka also commits to continue to fully cooperate with the World Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency.   

 

The debarment of Mr. Taureka qualifies for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks (MDBs) under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions that was signed on April 9, 2010.