New FCPA-Related Investigations Disclosed by Mining Companies
- posted: Dec. 21, 2017
- Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Whistleblower Litigation
Four mining companies have now disclosed that they are subject of investigations related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). One company first disclosed an investigation in late November, while the others disclosed their investigations in 2016, 2015 and 2013.
Two of the companies are based in the United Kingdom, while the others are in Switzerland and Canada. Multiple other countries are involved in these ongoing investigations, including Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Guinea.
A range of agencies are overseeing these investigations, including the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.K.’s Serious Fraud Office and the Ontario Securities Commission in Canada.
A fifth mining company in the United States also disclosed an FCPA-related investigation in 2016. Earlier this year, the company reported that it received declinations from both the SEC and DOJ.
Whistleblowers often trigger FCPA investigations
In many circumstances, FCPA investigations are triggered when a company’s employees discover wrongdoing and decide to report it. In many cases, the results of the investigations are not widely publicized, but they can still lead to government agencies putting an end to harmful and fraudulent practices that negatively affect the public. In this way, whistleblowers can have a long-term impact when it comes to preventing further harm.
Whistleblowers receive protections from the U.S. government through a variety of strict whistleblower protection laws. If you would like to learn more about your options if you’re aware of wrongdoing within your organization, meet with a trusted Dallas attorney at Whistleblower Law for Managers.
