SMEC pays $9 million to end 13-year bribery investigation; admits nothing
SMEC paid $9 million to end a 13-year bribery investigation without admitting wrongdoing.
The Australian Federal Police closed a long bribery investigation into SMEC. SMEC is formerly the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation.
The company agreed to pay $9 million under proceeds of crime law but made no admission of wrongdoing. The AFP began investigating SMEC's conduct in Sri Lanka and Vietnam in 2013.
SMEC self-reported concerns to police in 2016 and 2018 and cooperated fully. Police did not refer the matter to prosecutors.
They cited SMEC's cooperation and the time that had passed. Staff members who were allegedly involved are no longer with the company.
SMEC still does major Australian infrastructure work. This includes Melbourne's Metro Tunnel, Western Sydney International Airport and the Warringah Freeway upgrade.
- $9 million
- Settlement amount
- 13 years
- Investigation duration
- 2013
- Investigation start
- Andrea Quinn
- AFP commander
Why it mattersA company facing serious corruption claims settled without admitting guilt or going to court. It kept control of billions in public infrastructure work.
AustraliaSMEC continues to build Australia's biggest infrastructure projects despite a 13-year foreign bribery investigation that ended without prosecution or admission.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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