Monday Compliance News - Around the World

/ Global Compliance Solutions Group LLC/

GCSG's Monday Compliance News (published Tuesday the week of Jan 22) is a compilation of some of the previous weeks interesting trade compliance, anti-bribery/corruption, fraud, and due diligence news bites, from around the world.

The Impact of Retroactive Transfer Pricing Adjustments on the EU Customs Valuation | KPMG Meijburg & Co

"With its judgment of December 20, 2017 in the Hamamatsu Photonics Deutschland case, the Court of Justice of the European Union finally provided some clarity about the impact of retroactive transfer pricing adjustments...." (Click here for the article) - European Union

UK companies will face huge new VAT burden after Brexit | The Guardian

"More than 130,000 UK firms will be forced to pay VAT upfront for the first time on all goods imported from the European Union after Brexit...." (Click here for the article) - UK, European Union

Ban Ki-Moon's Nephew Pleads Guilty in Bribery Case | The Wall Street Journal

"Joo Hyun Bahn, the nephew of former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, pleaded guilty on Friday to U.S. charges connected to a scheme to bribe a foreign official...." (Click here for the article) - Vietnam, U.S., Global

Canada takes the U.S. to WTO in wide-ranging trade complaint | The Globe and Mail

"The Canadian government is taking the United States to the world's trade court in a wide-ranging complaint that accuses Washington of flouting the rules of commerce." (Click here for the article) - Canada, U.S.

Deferred prosecution agreements proposed to take companies task | The Straits Times

"A new legal framework that can grant companies amnesty for certain corporate offences is being proposed in Singapore." (Click here for the article) - Singapore

Cigarettes and Murky Joint Ventures Help North Korea Evade Crackdown  | The Wall Street Journal

"Global businesses faced a deadline last week to exit joint ventures operating in North Korea, but dozens of them are still there." (Click here for the article) - North Korea, U.S., South Korea, China, Global

US Company Settles Whistleblower Lawsuit, Pays for Importer's Customs Fraud  | Global Trade Magazine

"Federal prosecutors in New York recently announced the settlement of a remarkable lawsuit relating to a scheme to evade import duties." (Click here for the article) - U.S.

SFO opens investigation into Chemring Group PLC and its subsidiary  | U.K. Serious Fraud Office News Release

"The SFO confirms it has opened a criminal investigation into bribery, corruption and money laundering arising from the conduct of business by Chemring Group plc and CTSL..." (Click here for the article) - U.K.

Monday Compliance News - Around the World

/ Global Compliance Solutions Group LLC/

GCSG's Monday Compliance News is a compilation of some of the previous weeks interesting trade compliance, anti-bribery/corruption, fraud, and due diligence news bites, from around the world.

Governance Is the Next Target for Abenomics | The Wall Street Journal

"A wave of corporate scandals and Japan's persistently weak inflation are renewing pressure to improve the way the country's businesses are managed." (Click here for the article) - Japan

Corruption scandal hits Huawei with its top executive suspected of bribery | technode

"The excecutive vice president of Huawei's consumer business group Greater China, Teng Hongfei, has been taken away by the public security, according to people familiar with the matter." (Click here for the article) - China

Ex-Tennessee director of football ops to repay $14K due to forged receipts | Yahoo Sports

"Tennessee's former director of football operations is repaying the school over $14,000 after he pleaded guilty to misconduct regarding forged receipts for expense reports." (Click here for the article) - United States

Non-compliance to be 'very costly' for companies | moneycontrol

"Sending out a strong message to (Indian) corporates, the government has said non-compliance will be "very costly" and strong deterrents will be there to curb the dangerous adventure of using companies for wrongful purposes." (Click here for the article) - India

COSO/ACFE publish a new Fraud Risk Management Guide

/ Global Compliance Solutions Group LLC/

The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) jointly published a new Fraud Risk Management Guide (FRMG) in September 2016. 

COSO/ACFE developed the guidance because they felt there was a demand for more guidance on fraud risk management.  They formed the task force to draft the guidance in January 2015 and they finished their work at the end of 2015.

The guidance is aligned with and supports the five key principles of the 2013 COSO Framework's internal control components.  These key principles include: Control Environment, Risk Assessment, Control Activities, Information & Communication, and Monitoring Activities.  The FRMG describes five essential processes that are necessary for the effective implementation of the key principles. These processes include:

  • Establish a fraud risk governance policy
  • Assess your organizations fraud risk
  • Design and implement fraud prevention control activities
  • Establish reporting and investigation processes
  • Monitor the entire fraud risk management process

Key Link(s):

DOJ Launches New FCPA Prosecutorial Guidance Pilot Program

/ Global Compliance Solutions Group LLC/

On April 5, 2016 the Department of Justice (DOJ) Criminal Division announced a new one-year pilot program within the Fraud Section's FCPA Unit.  The pilot program provides guidance to DOJ prosecutors for resolutions in FCPA cases.  The program was designed to assist companies with their decision making process as to whether they should voluntarily self-disclose FCPA violations, cooperate with the Fraud Section, and when appropriate, correct gaps in their controls and compliance programs. 

The program describes what is meant by "voluntary self-disclosure", "full cooperation", and "timely and appropriate remediation".  The guidance states that when a company cooperates, remediates, and voluntarily self-discloses violations, it will be eligible for the full range of mitigation credit.  In the event a criminal resolution is warranted, a company may be granted a reduction of up to 50 percent below the low end of the applicable U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range.  In addition the company would generally not require the appointment of a monitor.

What are the reader's thoughts on the value of this pilot program?   

Related Documents: