Ethics & Corruption - Articles - Page 25

Quebec Readies for Tighter Public Contracting Ethics

Legislators will weigh creation of an independent watchdog agency

Scott Van Voorhis

June 24, 2016

No Comments

Tough rules follow a four-year provincial probe of widespread contracting infractions.

Public Works

Brazil's Woes Take Toll on Rio Olympics Construction

Preparing for the games and for the eyes of the world amid numerous controversies.

Augusto Diniz

June 21, 2016

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While officials claim most work will be done and the federal government is infusing cash, Brazilian firms worry about not getting paid.

Whistle-Blower Gains $500K of $2.25M Tennessee DBE Pact

Candy McCampbell

May 25, 2016

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A Tennessee road and bridge builder has agreed to pay $2.25 million to settle a whistle-blower lawsuit that accused the firm of fraud by putting its own employees on the payroll of a disadvantaged business enterprise it used to get contracts for 12 projects in Tennessee.

UK Blacklisting Scandal Settled for Some, Others Holding Out

May 4, 2016

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Three groups of U.K. construction workers have secured compensation for losses caused by an unlawful blacklist used by leading contractors for years, starting in the mid-1990s (ENR 10/19/15 p. 7).

Nairobi Building Collapse Kills 21 During Pending Demolition Lawsuit

Shem Oirere

May 2, 2016

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Another 65 or more people remain missing in the fallen six-story structure.

NJ ‘Play-to-Play’ Design Firm Ex-CEO Gets 4-Year Jail Term

Debra K. Rubin

April 27, 2016

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Howard Birdsall, who, as founder and former CEO of now-defunct Birdsall Services Group, presided over a $1- million scheme in New Jersey that illegally funneled political donations through employees, was sentenced on April 22 to four years in state prison.

CEO of Odebrecht Sentenced in Brazil

Augusto Diniz

March 16, 2016

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Brazil’s current government and its largest contractor are trying to survive the latest episode in the country’s long-running construction bribery scandal.

SNC-Lavalin Corruption Case Won't Get Hearing Until 2018

Scott Van Voorhis

March 7, 2016

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Extension keeps charges hanging, but may buy time for Canadian giant to settle federal ethics violations.

Second Former NJ Design Firm Exec Pleads Guilty in 'Pay-to-Play' Scheme

Debra K. Rubin

February 26, 2016

One Comment

Ex-Executive VP Thomas Rospos of now-defunct Birdsall Services Group takes third-degree plea on Feb. 25 as his trial began in $1-milion scheme; ex-CEO Howard Birdsall pleaded guilty on Feb. 18.

Fake Engineers Put Hundreds of Projects at Risk in California

Nicholas Zeman

February 17, 2016

One Comment

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. (LACSD) accused two phony engineers of using stolen software to forge the engineering seal and signature of a former employer.