FED: AWB employees to blow whistle on culture of corruption

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2006
FED: AWB employees to blow whistle on culture of corruption

At least three current and former employees of AWB are reportedly seeking immunity
from prosecution .. in exchange for blowing the whistle on a culture of bribery and corruption
in the company.

The Australian newspaper reports the three are offering to provide evidence to the
Cole inquiry .. that the wheat export industry is based on a system of kickbacks and bribes
to corrupt regimes around the world.

One former employee .. who's already given an anonymous statement to the inquiry ..

says making payments to foreign officials has been common practice at AWB .. and it's
been engaged in bad business in Iran .. Pakistan .. Yemen and Indonesia.

Two other employees are reportedly also considering giving evidence .. but want a guarantee
they won't face prosecution for bribing a foreign official .. which carries a maximum
10-year jail term.

AAP RTV ajc/jv

KEYWORD: AWB EMPLOYEES (SYDNEY)

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