Marubeni fined for bribing Indonesia gov't officials

"regrettable" won't get you off the hook this time, guys! Do the crime, actually do the time!

The effect of bribes on international business affairs has two viewpoints. The first would be that in some cultures giving gifts show respect but it has no place in business because it gives an unfair competitive advantage over those that don't. The second would be that bribery is a way of cutting through bureaucratic red tape and expediting business deals even though bribery is unethical. However bribes have paved a way for business to expand globally and succeed. In many countries it is not illegal or it is an accepted practice. In Japan it is a cultural expectation that has been rooted deeply into its tradition. Gift giving is expected at the first meeting and symbolizes friendship, respect, pride, and anticipating a long lasting relationship. In the end, it all comes down to cultural differences and knowing when, where, and how a bribe should be used. However there are limits and a financial bribe would constitute a crime but maybe that can be the third viewpoint. It's all about the love of money, lust for power and a mean greedy streak.

Anti-corruption must fine Indonesian government officials for demanding bribes. Marubeni is a victim of EXTORTION

They need to structure their invoices and estimates better! Consulting fees, marketing costs, pre-production expenses, lobbying funding, expeditor guarantee, research and development costs, are all more acceptable terms for these facilitating payments.

And as @novenachama has written, in many countries these are the business norms; in fact if a business person cannot make any extra money off a deal, they are regarded as a pretty poor business person!

And most of the $88 million fine will wind up in the pockets of corrupt US Senators or Congressmen (or their constituents, through the awarding of unnecessary pork projects to their districts). So it's really just the transfer of one form of bribery for another.

This is not the first case, as Marubeni was also fined for bribery in Nigeria too. In Canada, Maribeni snubs Canadian environment laws by disposing its shares at one tenth of its market value to its Other Japanese shareholders in return for indemnification of environment liabilities. It has too aroused the suspicious of Revenue Canada. I would not be surprised they used similar tactic to get project award.

“Companies that wish to do business in the United States or with US companies must adhere to US law, and that means bribery is unacceptable,” said FBI official Valerie Parlave.

You can't make this stuff up! Too funny!

If you wish to bribe Americans, you need lobbyists or a special interest group to cleanse the transaction. You can't just go handing out envelopes of cash all willy-nilly. XD

Indonesia is corrupt to the bones. 99% of its elected officials have tsken bribe money one way or a other. It's crucial that Indonesia votes in Jokowi, a clean and anti corrup, humble politician that indonesis so desperstely needs...

It's not only Indonesia that's corrupt. It's another example of the USA believing that everything in the world falls under their jurisdiction. This was a business involving Japan and Indonesia, and yet the USA finds a reason to skim money off the deal. Imagine a US company doing a deal in Mexico that happens to violate Chinese law. If the US company has any business in China, the Chinese courts could seek millions by threatening criminal charges against them. What goes around comes around.

Despite the fact that it's immoral, I can't believe people still do this sort of thing while knowing the ramifications if they're caught... stupid

Seirei Tobamatsu: "Marubeni is a victim of EXTORTION"

Yeah, because they were FORCED to bid on the project in the first place, right? Glad they were nailed in another nation -- if it were the case here they would just apologize and probably even get a bailout.

And most of the $88 million fine will wind up in the pockets of corrupt US Senators or Congressmen (or their constituents, through the awarding of unnecessary pork projects to their districts). So it's really just the transfer of one form of bribery for another.

What a foolish comment -- and it's not "off topic", right, mods?

Marubeni at it again. Easy to compare Marubeni Corp. to a Mexican drug cartel; they both corrupt the poor with endless cash.