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According to the blog post, the trial ended on October 3rd, and investigators found that more than 100 people, including former ministers, the mayor of Bucharest, and various businessmen were involved in this latest corruption scandal involving Microsoft. More than 20 million euros were paid by Microsoft there as bribes. The blog post goes on to say that:
The Romanian court ruled in March 2016 with sentences for 8 years of prison and 9 million euros of asset forfeiture for the 4 persons on the picture [sic]. These sentences were appealed and October 3rd the High Court of Cessation and Justice (HCCJ) confirmed the guilt and increased the sentences to 14 years in prison and 17 million euros of asset forfeiture for these same persons.
Intellinews and The EUObserver have more detail on this story.
These bribery convictions are just the tip of the iceberg. Multiple news outlets are reporting on investigations of bribery in other countries as well as separate investigations by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities And Exchange Commission.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by PartTimeZombie on Wednesday October 26 2016, @12:56AM
I work for a US company, and every year as part of my training, I have to go through the details of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act [wikipedia.org]
The stupid training states that as the company is US owned, I am bound by the act, which is total bullshit as I don't live there and have never even visited the place.
I always assume that it just means that if I'm caught doing anything naughty I will be thrown under the bus so the company can claim they didn't know what was going on.
It will be the same with Microsoft, they will claim they knew nothing and it was a bunch of rogue partners. Microsoft has paid an awful lot in campaign contributions over the last few years, so don't expect any meaningful punishments.
(Score: 3, Informative) by frojack on Wednesday October 26 2016, @03:01AM
Chances are the practices forbidden to the US company are those practices that are outlawed by YOUR COUNTRY, even if nobody in your own country follows those laws.
For instance, bribes are common place in south/central america and much of asia. They are also illegal in those places. In most places the local firms get away with the bribes, with a wink and a nod.
China has started executing people for bribery. So far, its only their own people getting shot.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.