Versión Español
EspañolAn official for the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht who admitted to making bribes in Mexico is hoping to reach a fair agreement with Mexican authorities.
Odebrecht Compliance Director Mike Munro admitted last December that the company paid US $10.5 million in bribes to obtain contracts with the Mexican government, and now hopes to reach an “appropriate agreement” with officials to reconcile that.
“We expect a transparent agreement,” he said, “similar to the one we have reached in other countries where the sanction is adequate … The most important thing that we face in Mexico is the unknown, because there are still unresolved issues. Is there anything else? Who else is involved? Until these answers come to light, I don’t think that there will be much progress, to be honest.”
Munro also said Odebrecht made mistakes but is still interested in working in Mexico. They said they are looking for more work and are concentrating on showing the business community that they are the right partner.
“We have to pay the corresponding fines in each jurisdiction and change the way we do business,” Munro said.
He is in charge of developing the company’s new policies so that it can do business in the 25 countries where it currently operates. Preventing corruption deals is included in that policy. He stressed that it is possible to do business without resorting to corruption, even in high-risk environments.
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“To eradicate corruption in a large company requires a lot of money, not $50,000 or $100,000, but much more,” he said.
“The costs are enormous because you have to train, educate, identify problems, resolve issues and improve controls.
He said Odebrecht will not tolerate corruption again.
“It is serious and people can lose their job and go to jail.”
Source: El Economista
