Case Summaries

Fraudulent Practice

On 17 October 2023, a firm and its sales manager accepted a proposed debarment of 4 years after OAI’s investigation found evidence of misrepresentation of work experience to meet the bid qualification requirements of two ADB-financed contracts in Uzbekistan. The debarment extends to the debarred parties’ related entities.

Fraudulent Practice

OAI’s investigation found that a firm engaged in fraudulent practice by misrepresenting its work experience in its bids under two ADB projects. 

The firm accepted a proposed 4-year debarment with conditional reinstatement after a minimum of 3 years if it demonstrates compliance with reinstatement conditions, including to improve its bid proposal procedures and update its anticorruption-related policies and practices. The firm is ineligible to participate in ADB projects while debarred. The debarment includes the firm’s branches and subsidiaries.

Fraudulent Practice

OAI received allegations that a joint venture had submitted falsified documents in its bid for an ADB contract. OAI’s investigation established that the lead firm of the joint venture falsified the work experience certificates of the partner firm for the joint venture to appear to be responsive to the bid requirements of the contract. OAI also found that the lead firm, through its director and bid representative of the joint venture, attempted to cover-up the original fraud by submitting another falsified certification from the purported employer. OAI considered the level of concealment as an aggravating factor to the sanction in determining the proposed 4-year debarment with conditional reinstatement.  

The firm and its director accepted OAI’s findings of fraudulent practice and the proposed debarment period of 4 years, subject to reinstatement after completion of a minimum period of 4 years and compliance with reinstatement conditions. The debarred parties and their related entities are ineligible to participate in ADB-related activities while debarred.

Fraudulent Practice

OAI received allegations that a joint venture had submitted falsified documents in its bid for an ADB contract. OAI’s investigation established that the lead firm of the joint venture falsified the work experience certificates of the partner firm for the joint venture to appear to be responsive to the bid requirements of the contract. OAI also found that the lead firm, through its director and bid representative of the joint venture, attempted to cover-up the original fraud by submitting another falsified certification from the purported employer. OAI considered the level of concealment as an aggravating factor to the sanction in determining the proposed 4-year debarment with conditional reinstatement.  

The firm and its director accepted OAI’s findings of fraudulent practice and the proposed debarment period of 4 years, subject to reinstatement after completion of a minimum period of 4 years and compliance with reinstatement conditions. The debarred parties and their related entities are ineligible to participate in ADB-related activities while debarred.

Fraudulent Practice

OAI’s investigation found that a firm submitted falsified documents misrepresenting its work experience to comply with the bid requirements of an ADB-financed contract. OAI proposed, and the firm accepted, a 2-year debarment from participating in any ADB-financed, administered or supported activities which extends to all its subsidiaries and branches effective 24 July 2023, subject to reinstatement after completing a minimum period of 18 months and upon fulfillment of the conditions imposed by OAI.

Fraudulent Practice

On 12 June 2023, following an investigation by OAI, a firm accepted that it engaged in fraudulent practice when it misrepresented its work experience through the submission of a fraudulent work certificate in its bid for an ADB-financed project in Pakistan. 

The firm cooperated with the investigation and accepted a 2-year debarment, with the possibility of early reinstatement subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions set by OAI. The debarment extends to the firm’s subsidiaries and branches.

Fraudulent Practice

On 26 May 2023, a firm accepted ADB’s proposed debarment of 2 years for engaging in fraudulent practice by submitting fraudulent compliance test certificates to meet the bid requirements of two ADB-financed contracts. The debarment extends to the firm’s branches and subsidiaries.

Obstructive Practice

On 24 March 2023, ADB’s Integrity Oversight Committee (IOC) concurred with OAI’s findings that a firm engaged in fraudulent practice in its bid for an ADB-financed contract.

The IOC determined that the firm submitted misrepresentations and falsified documents in response to the executing agency’s requests for information during the bid evaluation. The IOC considered the firm’s failure to cooperate with OAI’s investigation an aggravating factor and debarred the firm for 4 years.

Fraudulent Practice

On 24 March 2023, ADB’s Integrity Oversight Committee (IOC) concurred with OAI’s findings that a firm engaged in fraudulent practice in its bid for an ADB-financed contract.

The IOC determined that the firm submitted misrepresentations and falsified documents in response to the executing agency’s requests for information during the bid evaluation. The IOC considered the firm’s failure to cooperate with OAI’s investigation an aggravating factor and debarred the firm for 4 years.

Fraudulent Practice

On 14 March 2023, Mr. Md. Abdul Awal, a Bangladeshi national, and his sole proprietor firm, M/S. A.S. Construction, accepted ADB’s proposed debarment of 7 years with an option for early reinstatement after completion of a minimum period of 5 years and fulfilment of conditions set by OAI. Prior, ADB had debarred M/S. A.S. Construction for engaging in fraudulent practice. While debarred, the firm engaged in a fraudulent practice when it misrepresented its eligibility to participate in ADB-related activities in three bids for three ADB-financed contracts and signed one ADB-financed contract.

Fraudulent Practice

On 14 March 2023, Mr. Md. Abdul Awal, a Bangladeshi national, and his sole proprietor firm, M/S. A.S. Construction, accepted ADB’s proposed debarment of 7 years with an option for early reinstatement after completion of a minimum period of 5 years and fulfilment of conditions set by OAI. Prior, ADB had debarred M/S. A.S. Construction for engaging in fraudulent practice. While debarred, the firm engaged in a fraudulent practice when it misrepresented its eligibility to participate in ADB-related activities in three bids for three ADB-financed contracts and signed one ADB-financed contract.

Fraudulent Practice

An International Financial Institution which co-financed a project with ADB reported to OAI possible fraudulent practice and potential conflict of interest among an individual formerly engaged as a project adviser and team leader, with several firms and their proprietors that submitted bids and were awarded contracts under the project. OAI’s investigation found that such individual engaged in fraudulent practice when he omitted disclosing conflict of interest with these firms. OAI also found that the firms omitted disclosing their conflict of interest with one another to the EA and ADB to obtain contracts under the Project.

On 22 February 2023, ADB’s Integrity Oversight Committee concurred with OAI’s findings and imposed a debarment period of 6 years on the individual project adviser and team leader, and 4 years on this individual’s brother and the firm owned by the latter. The IOC also imposed a minimum debarment period of 3 years to three other firms and individuals. The debarred parties are required to comply with reinstatement conditions before they may apply for reinstatement of their eligibility to participate in ADB-financed, administered, or supported activities.

Fraudulent Practice

An International Financial Institution which co-financed a project with ADB reported to OAI possible fraudulent practice and potential conflict of interest among an individual formerly engaged as a project adviser and team leader, with several firms and their proprietors that submitted bids and were awarded contracts under the project. OAI’s investigation found that such individual engaged in fraudulent practice when he omitted disclosing conflict of interest with these firms. OAI also found that the firms omitted disclosing their conflict of interest with one another to the EA and ADB to obtain contracts under the Project.

On 22 February 2023, ADB’s Integrity Oversight Committee concurred with OAI’s findings and imposed a debarment period of 6 years on the individual project adviser and team leader, and 4 years on this individual’s brother and the firm owned by the latter. The IOC also imposed a minimum debarment period of 3 years to three other firms and individuals. The debarred parties are required to comply with reinstatement conditions before they may apply for reinstatement of their eligibility to participate in ADB-financed, administered, or supported activities.

Fraudulent Practice

An International Financial Institution which co-financed a project with ADB reported to OAI possible fraudulent practice and potential conflict of interest among an individual formerly engaged as a project adviser and team leader, with several firms and their proprietors that submitted bids and were awarded contracts under the project. OAI’s investigation found that such individual engaged in fraudulent practice when he omitted disclosing conflict of interest with these firms. OAI also found that the firms omitted disclosing their conflict of interest with one another to the EA and ADB to obtain contracts under the Project.

On 22 February 2023, ADB’s Integrity Oversight Committee concurred with OAI’s findings and imposed a debarment period of 6 years on the individual project adviser and team leader, and 4 years on this individual’s brother and the firm owned by the latter. The IOC also imposed a minimum debarment period of 3 years to three other firms and individuals. The debarred parties are required to comply with reinstatement conditions before they may apply for reinstatement of their eligibility to participate in ADB-financed, administered, or supported activities.

Fraudulent Practice

An International Financial Institution which co-financed a project with ADB reported to OAI possible fraudulent practice and potential conflict of interest among an individual formerly engaged as a project adviser and team leader, with several firms and their proprietors that submitted bids and were awarded contracts under the project. OAI’s investigation found that such individual engaged in fraudulent practice when he omitted disclosing conflict of interest with these firms. OAI also found that the firms omitted disclosing their conflict of interest with one another to the EA and ADB to obtain contracts under the Project.

On 22 February 2023, ADB’s Integrity Oversight Committee concurred with OAI’s findings and imposed a debarment period of 6 years on the individual project adviser and team leader, and 4 years on this individual’s brother and the firm owned by the latter. The IOC also imposed a minimum debarment period of 3 years to three other firms and individuals. The debarred parties are required to comply with reinstatement conditions before they may apply for reinstatement of their eligibility to participate in ADB-financed, administered, or supported activities.

Sanction violation and fraudulent practice

OAI’s investigation established that the firm engaged in multiple integrity violations under two ADB projects by: (1) violating an ADB sanction when it participated in a bid with a joint venture partner that was debarred from participating in any ADB-related activity; and (2) committing fraudulent practice when it submitted falsified work experience documents in a bid for an ADB-financed contract.

On 31 January 2023, the IOC concurred with OAI’s findings of a sanction violation and fraudulent practice and debarred the firm for 4 years for engaging in multiple integrity violations. The firm’s debarment period commenced from the date of its temporary suspension on 22 December 2022.