Source: Australian Federal Police The AFP has finalised a foreign bribery investigation into SMEC International Pty Ltd (SMEC), after SMEC and the AFP agreed to a settlement payment totalling $9 million (pecuniary penalty) under the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth) (POCA). The settlement does not involve any admission of liability Continue reading
News
September BPN Update
Posted on October 1, 2026
The Bribery Prevention Network welcomes you to our third Bulletin of 2026 as we continue our mission to support Australian businesses in preventing and addressing bribery. This edition covers the close of the statutory review consultation, a Queensland bribery case and a US FCPA conviction, the AFP’s self-reporting guideline, and a recap of our APSACC Continue reading
Queensland man linked to suspicious death overseas charged for allegedly bribing foreign public officials
Posted on September 22, 2026
Source: Australian Federal Police A Redbank Plains man is scheduled to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court today (22 September, 2026), charged for allegedly bribing Bangladeshi public officials for personal gain. The man, 51, is alleged to have transferred about $90,000 to people in Bangladesh with the intent that they use it to influence an investigation Continue reading
Ex-Energy Trader For Vitol Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for $500 Million International Bribery Scheme
Posted on September 21, 2026
Source: United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York Javier Aguilar Conspired to Pay More than $1 Million in Bribes to Officials in Ecuador and Mexico for Over $500 Million in Oil and Gas Contracts; Forfeited More than $7.1 Million in Laundered Funds BROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Javier Continue reading
Statutory Review of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combatting Foreign Bribery) Act 2024
Posted on August 7, 2026
The Attorney-General’s Department has opened public consultation as part of the statutory review of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combatting Foreign Bribery) Act 2024, giving businesses, legal professionals, industry bodies and civil society the chance to weigh in on how Australia’s strengthened foreign bribery laws are working in practice. The 2024 Act made significant changes to Continue reading
Former Banker Convicted for Scheme to Bribe Ghanaian Officials
Posted on August 7, 2026
Source: United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York, Thursday, August 6, 2026 “Defendant Asante Kwaku Berko Paid More than $1 Million in Bribes Related to the Development of a Power Plant in Ghana BROOKLYN, NY – Asante Kwaku Berko, a dual citizen of the United States and Ghana, was convicted today by a federal Continue reading
Recent posts
- 01/10/2026: AFP finalises foreign bribery investigation into company following $9 million settlement
- 22/09/2026: Queensland man linked to suspicious death overseas charged for allegedly bribing foreign public officials
- 21/09/2026: Ex-Energy Trader For Vitol Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for $500 Million International Bribery Scheme
- 07/08/2026: Statutory Review of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combatting Foreign Bribery) Act 2024
- 17/06/2026: June BPN Bulletin