Pursuant to Sanctions Board Decision No. 138 issued in Sanctions Case No. 693, the Sanctions Board imposes a sanction of conditional non-debarment for a period of two (2) years on Union Strong Group, Inc. (the ¡°Respondent¡±). In case of non-compliance with the conditions within the prescribed period of non-debarment, the Respondent shall be automatically placed under debarment with conditional release for a minimum period of two (2) years and nine (9) months.
This sanction is imposed on the Respondent for a corrupt practice as defined in Paragraph 1.16(a)(i) of the World Bank¡¯s Guidelines: Procurement of Goods, Works, and Non-Consulting Services under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits and Grants by World Bank Borrowers (January 2011) and Annex IV, Paragraph 2.2(a)(i) of the World Bank¡¯s Procurement Regulations for Borrowers under Investment Project Financing (July 2016).
Capsule Summary of Findings:
The Respondent was found liable for engaging in a corrupt practice by making two payments to a public official in order to influence improperly the public official¡¯s actions in the procurement and execution of Bank-financed contracts. In selecting the appropriate sanction for the Respondent, the Sanctions Board took into account all relevant sanctioning factors. Full discussion of the facts, allegations, and the Sanctions Board¡¯s analysis can be found in the published decision.