2nd ABAC Summit Announced in KL

After the great success of last year’s Anti-Bribery Summit, the 2nd ABAC Summit Announced in KL

CRI® Group is pleased to announce the upcoming Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC) Summit 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 25 September 2018. This is the second year for the ABAC Summit, providing invaluable expertise in due diligence, internal controls and compliance issues, along with showcasing the latest resources and solutions to detect and combat bribery and corruption within organizations.

The one-day summit is a must-attend event for anyone working in anti-bribery and anti-corruption, due diligence, risk management, and anti-fraud such as CEOs, CFOs, Chief Legal Officers, Chief Compliance Officers, In-house Counsels, Compliance Managers, Lawyers and Auditors, Heads of Procurement and Other officers responsible for Compliance and Anti-Corruption.

Last year’s Anti-Bribery Summit was a great success, with critical topics presented by leading experts in anti-bribery and anti-corruption compliance. This year aims to be even better, with an agenda that includes the following highlights:

• A welcome introduction by Zafar Anjum MSc, CFE, Intl. Dip. (Fin. Crime). As founder and CEO of CRI® Group, Zafar Anjum has dedicated 28 years to the areas of fraud prevention, protective integrity, security and compliance. His expertise helps create secure networks across challenging global markets.

• Mohd Nur Lokman Bin Samingan, Assistant Commissioner at Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), will present “MACC (Amendment) Act 2018: Section 17A, ‘Offence by Commercial Organization’”. Mohd Nur Lokman Bin Samingan has vast experience as an investigator and a prosecuting officer, and is currently attached to the Community Education Division of MACC as the head of Private Sector Branch. He engages business entities, corporations and private companies in cultivating anti-corruption awareness.

• Dr KM Loi, Vice-Chairman of ISO/PC 278 (ISO 37001:2016), Co-convenor of ISO/TC 309 WG2 (ISO 37001 Handbook), will present “ISO 37001:2016 – Management Tool to Address Corporate Liability Provision”. Dr KM Loi is an anti-bribery expert with 20 years of management skills in quality consulting, training and auditing with wide exposure to various industries in the context of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 13485, IATF 16949, ISO 26000, ISO 37001, SA8000 & OHSAS 18001.

• Drago Kos, Chairman of Organization for Economic Co-Operation & Development, will present “Corporate Integrity Guarantees Prosperity”. Drago Kos is the Chairman of the OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions, Co-Chair of the Defence Corruption Monitoring Committee in Ukraine and adviser to the Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency.

• Cristian Nicoara, Independent Expert Consultant; Justice, Anti-Corruption, and Security Sector Reform Adviser, will present “Anti-Corruption Agencies are Fighting an Imbalanced Battle. Where to Find the Allies?” Cristian Nicoara is a former Romanian investigative prosecutor with 15 years specialisation in major crimes, anti-corruption and financial investigations.

• Md Alimuddin Rahim, Group Integrity Officer at Petra Energy Berhad, will present “Role of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Foundation (NGO) in assisting Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)”. Md Alimuddin Rahim has more than 20 years’ experience in his industry – he is the Secretary General at Malaysian Anti-Corruption Foundation and also works as Group Integrity Officer at Petra Energy Berhad.

• Presenter Cynthia Gabriel, Executive Director at The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center), human rights advocate and anti-corruption leader in Malaysia will present “New Lessons from 1MDB: The evolving actors in modern money laundering”. Cynthia Gabriel has experience advancing and promoting human rights, good governance and democratic freedoms. She founded the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4), a NED grantee, which works to promote good governance and conducts a multifaceted project designed to encourage public participation in efforts to combat corruption.

• A special panel discussion and Q&A session will feature all of the keynote speakers.

• An hour at the conclusion for additional networking among attendees, with refreshments provided.

CRI® Group founder and CEO Zafar Anjum said that after the success of last year’s inaugural event in Pakistan, he is excited about the second Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“This year’s agenda was developed to provide you with invaluable information and foresight into the forces that guide and dictate our everyday work life: the ongoing quest for solutions, balance, and insight into the oftentimes chaotic world of anti-bribery and corporate corruption compliance”, Anjum wrote.

This is a critical time for world markets and economies. The latest Corruption Perceptions Index shows that “most countries around the world are making little or no progress in ending corruption” (Transparency international, titled “Corruption perception index 2017”, 2018).

That’s why the expertise, best practises and resources shared by the leading industry experts at the ABAC Summit are more important than ever. In the Asia Pacific region alone, the majority of countries are in the lower half of this year’s Corruption Perceptions Index. This is because bribery is still a key problem, made worse by unaccountable governments, lack of oversight, instability and insecurity.

There are positive signs as well. Officials in Malaysia, the host country of this year’s ABAC Summit, have made strides in the fight against bribery and corruption. According to MACC, 879 offenders – from top management to lower level staff, in both the public and private sectors – were arrested last year. This demonstrates Malaysia’s commitment to bringing offenders to justice.

Time is running out to make your plans to attend ABAC 2018 and get an edge on the latest best practices, laws, regulations and compliance, presented by the foremost experts in the field. Meet the colleagues you networked with at last year’s event; or make new connections with CEOs, CFOs, other executives, directors, lawyers, auditors, legal officers, compliance officers and others who face the same anti-fraud and anti-corruption challenges as you.

Visit www.anticorruptionsummit.com and reserve your spot today. Early bird registration (50 percent off!) is available until 30 August.

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, TPRM, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI® Group also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.

In 2016, CRI® Group launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body that provides education and certification services for individuals and organisations on a wide range of disciplines and ISO standards, including ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management- Guidelines; ISO 37000:2021 Governance of Organisations; ISO 37002:2021 Whistleblowing Management System; ISO 37301:2021 (formerly ISO 19600) Compliance Management system (CMS); Anti-Money Laundering (AML); and ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems ABMS. ABAC® offers a complete suite of solutions designed to help organisations mitigate the internal and external risks associated with operating in multi-jurisdiction and multi-cultural environments while assisting in developing frameworks for strategic compliance programs. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

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Internal Control: Identify Vulnerabilities through TPRM Assessment

CRI® Group’s Third-Party Risk Assessments are front-line tools used to ascertain whether an organisation has the appropriate policies and procedures in place to address all potential risks at the management, operations and financial levels and simulates the likelihood of those risks occurring.

A 3PRM^TM assessment includes a review of internal auditing procedures, compliance guidelines, performance criteria, internal controls, reporting processes, and contractual requirements vital to fostering a long-term positive outcome with the third-party provider when looking at the relationship from a cost-benefit standpoint. A 3PRM^TM assessment verifies whether the proposed third-party relationship is consistent with the organisation’s strategic plan and overall business strategy. Specific areas addressed in a 3PRM^TM assessment include:

• Audit and supervision functions that assign clearly defined responsibilities within the organisation
• Business continuity plans that take into account natural disasters and third-party business closures
• Supply-chain alternatives that react and respond to every possible scenario, from regional events to currency fluctuations
• Jurisdictional considerations and affiliations with potential partners located in regions that may be prohibited by law
• Data and intellectual property protection, which includes customer privacy and information security considerations
• Anti-corruption and whistle-blower policies begin with staff education and extend to safe internal and external reporting mechanisms which are easily accessible to management and staff.

Our 3PRM^TM assessments ensure tight controls to mitigate key risks and designate specific staff responsible for maintaining those controls. Any gaps detected in those controls are addressed during the assessment phase.

VIEW 3PRM^TM BROCHURE

CRI® Group invites you to schedule a quick appointment with us to discuss how conducting our 3PRM^TM assessment can help you and your organisation. 

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Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, TPRM, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI® Group also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.

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Fraud Advisory Panel celebrates 20 Years

CRI Group wishes to congratulate Fraud Advisory Panel on the 20th anniversary. It was a pleasure to attend the event and celebrate this great occasion of FAP fighting fraud for 20 years. It has been a great honor to be the member of the panel. Looking forward to continuing working together in the future!

Connect with us for Risk, Compliance and Anti-Bribery solutions across 80 countries.

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, TPRM, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI® Group also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.

In 2016, CRI® Group launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body that provides education and certification services for individuals and organisations on a wide range of disciplines and ISO standards, including ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management- Guidelines; ISO 37000:2021 Governance of Organisations; ISO 37002:2021 Whistleblowing Management System; ISO 37301:2021 (formerly ISO 19600) Compliance Management system (CMS); Anti-Money Laundering (AML); and ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems ABMS. ABAC® offers a complete suite of solutions designed to help organisations mitigate the internal and external risks associated with operating in multi-jurisdiction and multi-cultural environments while assisting in developing frameworks for strategic compliance programs. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

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Are you ready to EmploySmart? Meet us at SHRM’18

Meet us at the 2018 SHRM Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago, to demonstrate a commitment to your professional development and learning about tools and resources you need to best serve your organisation’s HR needs.

One of those critical needs is helping your organisation prevent fraud. Human resources managers and specialists are at the front line of fraud prevention, as hiring processes and background checks can help screen out potential fraudsters before they even get in the door.

CRI® Group understands the challenges posed by those who can harm your organisation – and we have the solutions. That’s why we’d love to meet you at the SHRM conference. We’ll discuss how EmploySmart™, our pre-employment background screening process, can boost your fraud prevention efforts and provide a “boots on the ground” approach to extensive background checking.

EmploySmart™ provides a close examination of job candidates including their identity, criminal background, education credentials, job history and references; along with financial and credit checks (as permitted by law), and bankruptcy and civil litigation checks, among many other details.

CRI® Group invites you to schedule a quick appointment with us to discuss in more detail how EmploySmart™ can help you and organisation. Are you ready to EmploySmart™? We look forward to seeing you in Chicago!

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, TPRM, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI® Group also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.

In 2016, CRI® Group launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body that provides education and certification services for individuals and organisations on a wide range of disciplines and ISO standards, including ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management- Guidelines; ISO 37000:2021 Governance of Organisations; ISO 37002:2021 Whistleblowing Management System; ISO 37301:2021 (formerly ISO 19600) Compliance Management system (CMS); Anti-Money Laundering (AML); and ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems ABMS. ABAC® offers a complete suite of solutions designed to help organisations mitigate the internal and external risks associated with operating in multi-jurisdiction and multi-cultural environments while assisting in developing frameworks for strategic compliance programs. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SOLUTIONS

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CRI® Celebrates 28 Years with a Trip to Thailand

2018 has been a big year for CRI® Group, a global leader in Risk, Compliance and Anti-Corruption Management Systems. First, the firm was granted accreditation by the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC) as an ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System Certification and Conformity Assessment Body (the first accreditation of its kind awarded to a certification body specialising in global anti-bribery and anti-corruption, risk and compliance standards).

Then, CRI® Group proudly announced that it will host its Anti-Bribery Summit 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – following the success of last year’s inaugural event. The two-day summit offers expert training and the sharing of best practices for fighting bribery and corruption.

Following both of these major announcements, more than 20 CRI® Group employees gathered in Bangkok, Thailand to celebrate the company’s 28th anniversary. CRI® Group organised the trip to help employees connect, share in their achievements together, and enjoy all of the sights, sounds and great cuisine of Thailand in the ultimate team building trip.

CRI® Group: A Brief History

CRI® Group was originally founded as the “Metropolitan Detective Agency” by Mr. Muhammad Anwar Naveed, the father of CRI® Group CEO Mr. Zafar I. Anjum. It was a one-man private investigation firm that dealt with insurance claim investigations. In 1990, Mr. Zafar Anjum (a former member of the Pakistan Rangers who had earned a Graduate Diploma from Pakistan Detective Training Institute PDTI) formally launched the business as a full flagged district level detection agency with a full range of services including insurance claim fraud investigations, background checks and due diligence.

While working one insurance fraud case in particular, Mr. Zafar Anjum realised that a certain aspect of the affair struck him: Whereas most types of crime are dealt with by the justice system, fraud is peculiar in that it often mandates investigation by an external agency or organisation which specialises in fraud detection.

“I noticed that such organisations were sorely lacking in Pakistan at the time – and that there was a distinct lack of counter fraud education in the general population, which aided those committing fraud greatly”, Mr. Zafar Anjum said. “Furthermore, even where individuals were aware that they were being defrauded, they lacked the knowledge of how to effectively resolve disputes between themselves and the defrauder. Therefore we started a very first corporate investigation company in Pakistan specialising in Fraud Risk Investigations, Risk Consulting and Compliance solutions”.

Mr. Zafar Anjum raised the firm to a new level in 2001 when he incorporated and registered it in Pakistan as a Private Limited Company with a new name: Corporate Research and Investigations (Private) Limited, offering full-scale investigative research services. Corporate Research and Investigations Limited was incorporated in 2006 in the UK, and Corporate Research and Investigations LLC DIFC was incorporated in 2008 in UAE. Today, the company stands as a leader in employee background screening services, investigative due diligence, third-party risk management services and Anti-bribery Management Systems. CRI® Group safeguards some of the world’s leading businesses by establishing the legal compliance, financial viability and integrity levels of outside partners, suppliers and customers seeking for affiliation.

Currently based in London, UK, CRI® Group is a global firm with experts and resources located in key regional marketplaces across the Asia Pacific, South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and North America. The company’s success and growth continues, as it recently expanded into North and South America and Asia while opening three new branches: Toronto (Canada), São Paulo (Brazil) and Shanghai (China).

ABAC® Center of Excellence

While reflecting on CRI® Group’s history, Mr. Zafar Anjum said the recent EIAC accreditation is a major milestone and a result of the commitment and hard work of the entire team. CR®I Group administers ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System Certification through its Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption ABAC® Center of Excellence, which it launched in October of 2016.

“It is a special honour to be the very first accredited conformity assessment body in Middle East, Asia and the UK”, Mr. Zafar Anjum said. “This accreditation is a testament to the expertise of our global network of audit specialists and the result of 28 years providing high-level risk management and compliance solutions to organisations worldwide seeking to combat the detrimental effects of bribery and corruption”.

CRI® Group’s ABAC®  Center of Excellence was created to educate, equip and support the world’s leading business organisations with the latest in best-practice due diligence processes and procedures, providing world-class anti-bribery and anti-corruption solutions to organisations seeking to validate or expand their existing compliance frameworks to maintain a competitive edge in the world marketplace.

“We are striving to ensure compliance and ethics being best practices for companies and their third-party relationships, and we believe this is a very best defence against all corporate malpractices”, said Mr. Zafar Anjum.

A Time to Celebrate

The idea for the meeting in Thailand grew from CRI® Group’s achievements, and also the company’s focus on human connection as the key to career success, recognising the positive attitudes and encouraging efforts of all employees that help lead the company to new heights year after year. The trip to Thailand was an enthusiastic “thank you” for their hard work.

The group was made up of 22 CRI® Group employees from various worldwide locations. They were joined by Mrs. Kanwal Zafar, wife of Mr. Zafar Anjum, as they gathered in Bangkok for four days. They also visited Pattaya, took a trip to the Coral Island, took a cruise in the river and enjoyed Thai food, culture and each other’s company. As one of the most important aspects of the trip, they engaged in several team building activities to strengthen rapport and communication.

Dubai-based CRI® Group employee Ayesha said: “We had an amazing time in Thailand to celebrate our achievement of accreditation by EIAC. I wish for CRI® Group to have more success ahead so that lots of such trips come our way!”

Austeja, who is based in the UK, said: “The best thing is that we met each other. We do communicate internally a lot, but never met each other in person. I believe from now on, our communication will be even more effective and the bonds we built will help the company to reach even higher goals”.

Muhammad, from Pakistan office, mentioned: “It was my first trip abroad and it was a very peaceful and enjoying journey to Thailand with CRI® Family. Very effectively and thoroughly planned by HR and Admin department. Must say a very well-done job.  Thanks to Sir Zafar and Mam Kanwal for such a memorable trip.”

HR manager Ayesha concludes: “On this auspicious event, I would like to congratulate Mr. Zafar Anjum who have set the foundations of this company 28 years back and worked hard day in and day out to reach heights of success. And this 28th anniversary is very special for all of us as we have achieved EIAC accreditation in this year and we are an Accredited CB for the scope of ISO 37001:2016 ABMS. It is rightly said, and I quote: “Celebrate what you have accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher, each time you succeed”.”

Congratulations to Mr. Zafar Anjum and all CRI® Group employees for an anniversary to remember!

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South African President Jacob Zuma in a high-level corruption scandal

Recently, South African President Jacob Zuma resigned in a late-night address to the country. This week, politicians and pundits continue to reflect on what led to his downfall – which, even in the midst of high-level corruption scandal, never seemed certain. South Africa high-level corruption scandal

Fraud accusations finally proved to be more than Zuma’s presidency could bear. Two years ago, South Africa’s top court found that failed to pay back public funds spent on his private estate. But it was “the reinstatement of corruption, fraud, money-laundering and racketeering charges related to an arms deal” that pushed the needle too far for South Africans (The Economist, titled “Why Jacob Zuma resigned”, 2018).

Investigators allege that Zuma received a staggering 783 payments from a former financial advisor convicted of fraud. But these were not isolated scandals. Zuma has been implicated and suspected in various corruption schemes dating back to the early 2000s… He became seasoned at fighting court battles, in many cases seeing charges dropped, reinstated, and then dropped again.

The situation is a reminder that fraud and corruption still permeate the highest levels of government in many – even most – countries. Indeed, Transparency International’s most recent Corruption Perceptions Index scored South Africa a 43 out of 100 (Transparency.org, titled “Corruption perceptions index 2017”, 2018), noting that the country “continues to stagnate” along with other African countries in the fight against corruption.

It’s troubling news when so many countries and their citizens are trying to make inroads against fraud and corruption, only to see those efforts thwarted by the very leaders they elected. Bribery is still one of the biggest scourges affecting economies today. In fact, Transparency International (titled “Corruption statistics”, 2018) reports that “more than 40 percent of employees at board and senior manager level said that sales or cost numbers had been manipulated by their company.”

But bribery and corruption eventually end in ruin, as former President Zuma’s case underscores. At ABAC Center of Excellence, we understand how critical it is for any organisation to get its integrity due diligence and compliance measures in proper order and create a zero-tolerance environment for corruption and fraud. A proactive way to do that is to engage ABAC Certification, a special program administered by CRI Group and its ABAC Center of Excellence.

ISO 37001:2016 for your organisation

ABAC Certification’s ISO 37001:2016 certifies that your organisation has implemented reasonable and proportionate measures to prevent bribery. These measures involve top-level leadership, training, bribery risk assessment, third-party risk management, integrity due diligence, financial and commercial controls, reporting, audit and investigation.

The ISO 37001 ABMS training and certification help your company address bribery in all its forms, including:

• In the public, private and not-for-profit sectors
• By the organisation
• By the organisation’s personnel acting on the organisation’s behalf or for its benefit
• By the organisation’s business associates acting on the organisation’s behalf or for its benefit
• Of the organisation
• Of the organisation’s personnel in relation to the organisation’s activities
• Of the organisation’s business associates in relation to the organisation’s activities
• Direct and indirect bribery (e.g. a bribe offered or accepted through or by a third party)

ISO 37001:2016 takes into account a compendium of international best-practices, enabling your organisations to apply and implement uniform anti-bribery measures irrespective of the various countries in which they operate. Help turn the tide against bribery in your country, and your industry.

Who is CRI Group?

Based in London, CRI Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI Group also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.

In 2016, CRI Group launched Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC® operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI Group’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organisations. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

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Manage business intelligence and identify risks

Gathering intelligence isn’t just the stuff of spy movies. It’s also an important part of the business world – and when conducted legally, ethically and effectively, it is a critical tool for any organisation seeking to be successful in their industry or field.

Business investigations are about more than just identifying risk factors or weaknesses. They also reveal opportunities, from emerging commercial markets to potential new partnerships and acquisitions. At CRI® Group, our business intelligence revolves around giving you the information and the edge you need to make smart, insightful decisions that help grow your business.

Consider this: How quickly is the business world-changing in the face of technology and our interconnected world? What is your organisation doing to stay ahead of this curve and position yourself to take advantage of opportunities as they develop? In this article, we’ll talk about how business intelligence can help you grow your business while also avoiding some serious pitfalls.

Market research & analysis: Your key to information

CRI® Group’s market research & analysis experts gather the facts you need to make critical decisions, from entering new markets or industries to partnering with other organisations. Our service is based on getting you accurate information on a timely basis, interpreting and communicating it in a way that makes it easy to integrate it into your business planning.

For example, our CRI® Group’s agents put their investigative skills to work for you by helping you identify and analyse the following factors in your organisation’s market:

• Unmet needs. What gap can your organisation help fill?
• Consumer behaviour and business trends. How can your organisation take advantage?
• Brand awareness and identity. Is your organisation known and respected?
• Commercial viability and potential for success. What’s holding you back?

CRI® Group’s experts also know business trends and market changes and will guide you through the process of effectively communicating your brand and marketing your product through times of transition.

Commercial investigations: Know what you’re getting into

Mergers, partnerships and acquisitions represent another exciting area of potential growth for your organisation. But never go into such major engagements blind. CRI® Group’s comprehensive and thorough commercial investigation services involve a review of all relevant information concerning virtually any business on the planet to ascertain past business dealings, criminal records, executive stability and suspect associations.

Before you engage with another entity, CRI Group’s experts focus on the other organisation’s industry experience, its financial condition, knowledge of applicable laws and regulations, reputation, and the scope and effectiveness of its operations and controls. Our commercial investigations can reveal:

• Details of the organisation’s business and operations
• The organisation’s financial condition and reputation
• Any past or present litigation involving the organisation
• Background checks of the organisation’s key principals
• Reference checks, including peer businesses and industry groups
• Certifications, quality controls and continuous improvement initiatives
• The organisation’s experience in implementing and delivering on the proposed scope of services
• The organisation’s culture, vision and business style
• The organisation’s internal controls, information systems, security, confidentiality and contingency planning documents
• Any existing working relationships to gauge the reliance on subcontractors
• Adequacy of insurance coverage
• Marketing and customer service practices

In business, you need every piece of information available in order to position your organisation for success. With the right mix of market research and analysis and commercial investigations, opportunities will be clearer, and engagements become more secure. Contact CRI® Group today to learn how our business intelligence services can help.

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Investigative research reveals opportunities

Having the critical information you need can mean the difference between success and failure in business. When it comes to investigative research, trained experts can uncover facts that help you make the right decisions; and save your organisation from making costly mistakes. CRI® Group has trained investigators positioned worldwide who can help provide a range of investigative research services. When used as a tool of effective due diligence, investigative research can provide an immediate advantage and be a proven benefit for an organisation in any industry. In this article, we’ll discuss a few ways investigative research can help uncover previously unknown weaknesses.

Finding fraud

Any organisation is susceptible to fraud. To make matters worse, corporate fraud is often a complex crime, requiring a high degree of investigative expertise to ensure that evidence is gathered and handled correctly, interviews are conducted effectively, and laws are carefully followed in the investigation.

CRI® Group has conducted financial investigations for companies worldwide to uncover a variety of criminal activity, including:

• Corporate and accounting fraud
• Asset misappropriation
• Data manipulation or data theft
• Internal & external corruption
• Embezzlement
• Kickback schemes
• Expense manipulation
• Procurement fraud
• Third-party fraud
• IP Infringement
• Insurance fraud

The worst type of fraud scheme is the one you don’t know about. Statistics say that a typical fraud lasts as long as 18 months before it is discovered. With proper investigative research, you can uncover fraud sooner – and hopefully prevent the next one.

Discovering IP Theft

Intellectual property (IP) theft is a serious threat to any organisation. Unfortunately, trying to counteract it can be a slow and expensive process. Using proper investigative research by an expert provider like CRI Group can help uncover cases of IP theft and help you begin the process of securing your property.

Did you know how many types of IP theft are out there? In today’s high-tech world, your organisation can’t afford not to protect its IP assets. Through IP infringement investigations, our experts have helped uncover the following:

• Trade secret breaches
• Data breaches and IP leaks
• Patent investigations
• Theft of proprietary customer data
• Copyright abuse
• Unauthorised use of trademarks
• Counterfeit & pirated products
• Threats to brand integrity and reputation
• Brand imitation & product copying

Uncovering conflicts of interest

Conflicts of interest can cause serious harm and weaken your organisation. They can impact your bottom line, such as when an executive awards business to a colleague or friend at higher prices or partners with an unethical or disreputable third party. Investigative research provides extensive due diligence, looking deep into partnerships and vendors to uncover potential conflicts of interest.

Some of the scenarios CRI® Group’s experts have discovered:

• Criminal conduct and background issues
• Hidden assets
• Shell companies
• Unethical partnerships
• Bid-rigging
• Hidden financial interests among executives or management

Investigative research is critical in helping your organisation stay on top of any issues before spiral out of control. And as an effective tool for risk management, it helps you put preventative measures in place for the future. In business, the more you know the facts, the better positioned you will be. Contact CRI® Group to learn more about how investigative research can help your organisation today.

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI® Group also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications; it is also an HRO certified provider and an Oracle partner.

Filed under: Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption Solution, Compliance Solution, Investigative Solution, ISO 37001, Resources by admin
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Former auditor blows the whistle on Ernst & Young

Another egregious case of alleged corruption has rocked the fraud world. A whistleblower accuses Ernst & Young, one of the venerated “Big Four” accounting firms, of “unlawful, unprofessional, and unethical” behaviour for its audit of a Dubai gold company. The gold company, Kiloti, is in turn accused of money laundering and buying gold from conflict zones.

According to the article, titled “Whistleblower claims accountants turned a blind eye to Dubai firm he says painted 5 tons of gold to look like silver” (Business Insider, 2018), the fired former auditor filed documents in high court detailing the accusations. The article notes:

The court documents allege the audit found Kaloti had imported five tons of gold bars from Morocco painted silver, to avoid Moroccan export restrictions on gold, and that cash transactions totalling more than $5 billion made by the company were not reported to the Dubai authorities.

It is also alleged that about 57 tons of Sudanese gold was imported without due diligence checks done to establish whether it had come from a conflict zone, and that Kaloti did business with several organisations listed by US authorities as fronts for terrorism and organised crime.

The case illustrates several truths about corruption today:

Money laundering is still a serious, widespread problem

Anti-money laundering experts help clients avoid these risks, because the negative impacts of money laundering are so significant for any organisation. They include:

• Damaged corporate reputations and brand devaluation
• Eroding employee moral
• Potential consumer boycotts
• Negative investor perceptions
• Possible legal action
• Fines and potential jail terms for directors

Whistleblowers still face repercussions

In this case, it appears the EY auditor was terminated by bringing forth these bombshell allegations. CRI Group counsels clients to encourage fraud reporting, rather than punish it. The best case is to provide an anonymous reporting system, and to respond thoroughly to any tips of corruption, bribery and fraud. Remember, your employees are your first line of defence against fraud. If they aren’t willing to come forward for fear of retribution, fraud and corruption can continue unabated for years.

The UK Bribery Act is in force here

According to the article, the whistleblower and his lawyers allege that EY is in violation of the Bribery Act “because the firm retained Kaloti as a client and continued its good relations with Dubai authorities,” in spite of the alleged known or suspected money laundering.

This is why CRI’s ABAC Center of Excellence places a huge emphasis on helping clients stay diligent and in compliance with all anti-bribery and AML laws and regulations.

ISO 37001:2016 certifies that your organisation has implemented reasonable and proportionate measures to prevent bribery. These measures involve top-level leadership, training, bribery risk assessment, due diligence adequacy, financial and commercial controls, reporting, audit and investigation.

The 3PRM-Qualified™ training and 3PRM-Certified™ certification process for ISO 37001:2016 helps your company address bribery in all its forms, including:

• In the public, private and not-for-profit sectors
• By the organisation
• By the organisation’s personnel acting on the organisation’s behalf or for its benefit
• By the organisation’s business associates acting on the organisation’s behalf or for its benefit
• Of the organisation
• Of the organisation’s personnel in relation to the organisation’s activities
• Of the organisation’s business associates in relation to the organisation’s activities
• Direct and indirect bribery (e.g. a bribe offered or accepted through or by a third party)

Contact ABAC today and find out how we can help your organisation stay better protected from the negative effects of money laundering and bribery, and remain in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System certification is offered under CRI Group’s ABAC® Centre of Excellence, an independent certification body established for Anti-Bribery Management System training and certification, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and Risk Management System certification. The program will be tailored to your organisation’s needs and requirements. For assistance in developing and implementing a fraud prevention strategy, contact ABAC today or get a FREE QUOTE now!

Who is CRI Group?

Based in London, CRI Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI Group also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.

Filed under: Industry Insights, Resources by admin
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Petrobras to $422 million for corruption

The world’s largest builder of offshore oil rigs will pay $422 million in penalties after entering a guilty plea for bribery charges connected with the Petroleo Brasileiro (Petrobras) scandal. The company made illicit payments to both Petrobras officials and government representatives for years.

According to an article in Bloomberg, titled “Keppel Offshore to Pay $422 Million to End Bribery Probe” (2017), Keppel Offshore’s bribery scheme lasted for more than a decade. The payments ran afoul of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), resulting in the investigation.

The Bloomberg article includes a contrite statement from the company, in part:

“We regret and are deeply disappointed by the actions that we now know to have taken place at the group’s offshore and marine business in Brazil from around 2001 to 2014,” Keppel Corp. Chairman Lee Boon Yang said in an earlier statement. “Any perception that illegal payments can be condoned, if they are made by agents, is wrong and will not be tolerated.”

The action comes as a part of a multimillion-dollar bribery scandal that rocked Petrobras in 2015, leading to investor lawsuit and disgraced government officials. Corruption, bribery and fraud are serious issues in Brazil, along with many other countries around the world that are rushing enact new laws and tools to fight them, while enhancing efforts to enforce rules that are already on the books. Along with the FCPA, the UK Bribery Act and other regulations aim to criminalise corruption across international borders and stem the impact of such illicit acts.

For ABAC Center of Excellence, helping clients navigate the complicated waters of compliance and changing laws is one of our highest priorities – along with helping them stay protected from fraud and corruption. That’s why our CRI’s Certification program offered through the ABAC Center of Excellence offers cutting-edge training and resources for companies to be proactive in their anti-corruption measures.

ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System Certification

ABAC Center of Excellence is a provider of the ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System Certification, which confers many benefits including the following:

• Certification adds a distinct level of credibility to the organisation’s management systems and must be completed by a qualified, independent third-party.
• Ensures that the organisation is implementing a viable anti-bribery management program utilising widely accepted controls and systems.
• Provides assurance to management, investors, business associates, personnel and other stakeholders that the organisation is actively pursuing internationally recognised and accepted processes to prevent bribery and corruption.
• Protects the organisation, its assets, shareholders and directors from the effects of bribery.
• Provides acceptable evidence to prosecutors or courts that the organisation has taken reasonable steps to prevent bribery and corruption.

Don’t wait for bribery and corruption to affect your business. Contact the ABAC Center of Excellence today and learn how CRI’s Certification – and ISO 37001:2016 Certification – can help your organisation be proactive and protected from risk.

Filed under: Industry Insights, Resources by admin
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