WASHINGTON, July 22, 2015—The World Bank Group announced the debarment of Santmol Construction Enterprise for 18 months following the company’s acknowledgment of fraudulent practices in relation to the World Bank-financed Rural and Private Sector Development Project in Sierra Leone.
An investigation by the World Bank Integrity Vice Presidency revealed that Santmol Construction Enterprise submitted a forged bank guarantee to win a bid for a US$46,000 construction contract in 2013.
The sanction is part of a settlement agreement between the company and the World Bank Group under which the company commits to cooperation with the World Bank Integrity Vice Presidency and is required to improve its compliance standards.
The debarment of Santmol Construction Enterprise qualifies for cross-debarment by other MDBs under the Agreement of Mutual Recognition of Debarments that was signed on April 9, 2010.
