The UK Financial Services Authority handed down its largest ever fine relating to bribery in late July. The FSA issued a final notice fining Willis Limited £6.895 for failures in its anti-bribery and corruption systems and controls, concluding that Willis’ systems allowed for an unacceptable level of risk that overseas third party payments could be used for corrupt purposes. Over the course of 4 years, Willis made a series of payments to overseas third parties to assist in winning business from overseas clients. The FSA, however, also concluded that the misconduct on the part of Willis was not deliberate or reckless. Willis was given 14 days from the issuance of the penalty to remit payment. FINANCIAL SERVICES AUTHORITY, FSA/PN/066/2011 (U.K. July 21, 2011).
This post written by John Black.