German design firm Lahmeyer International, Bad Vilbel, in late February became the first firm blacklisted for bribery by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The move follows the World Bank’s ban of the firm last November that was set to last up to four months. The actions relate to Lahmeyer’s involvement in corrupt activities in the Lesotho Highlands Water Project a decade ago. The firm is now ineligible for EBRD contracts until it improves its three-year-old anti-corruption program, says a bank spokesman.
EBRD was not involved in the Lesotho job, but it was dissatisfied with Lahmeyer's anti-corruption program, says a bank spokesman. “We are all working together,” he says. “We will work with them to make it better.”