SNC11

The Executing Agency through The Respondent and other individuals, presented to the Bank a no-objection request to award contracts to companies including the Firm, under Phase III of the Program to Support Haiti’s Transportation Sector (the “Program”). The Office of Institutional Integrity (“OII”) submitted a Statement of Charges and Evidence against the Respondent. OII’s specific accusations were that the Respondent engaged in a fraudulent practice when he knowingly misrepresented the Firm’s qualifications when submitting a report to the Bank to justify the award of contracts to the Firm.

Consequently, and in accordance with the Sanctions Procedures, the Sanctions Officer (“SO”) issued a Notice of Administrative Action (“Notice”) to the Respondent. In the Response to the Notice, the Respondent denied the allegations presented by OII.

Following the issuance of the Notice and reviewing the Respondent’s Response, the SO issued a Determination finding that the Respondent engaged in a fraudulent practice and imposed a debarment. In accordance with the Sanctions Procedures, the Respondent appealed the SO’s Determination before the Sanctions Committee (the “Committee”). In the Respondent’s Appeal to the Committee, the Respondent denied committing the prohibited practice.

Following a de novo review of the written record (including the Statement of Charges, the Notice, the Respondent’s Response, the SO’s Determination, Respondent’s Appeal and OII’s Reply), the Committee concluded that it was more likely than not that the Respondent engaged in a fraudulent practice. The Committee took in consideration two mitigating factors (i) The Respondent’s nature of involvement and (ii) admission or acceptance of responsibility. The Committee imposed a two (2) year debarment during which the Respondent will be ineligible to participate or be awarded contracts for projects or activities financed by the Bank.