FED: AWB employees to blow whistle on culture of corruption

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2006
FED: AWB employees to blow whistle on culture of corruption

SYDNEY, Feb 2 AAP - At least three current and former employees of AWB are reportedly
seeking immunity from prosecution in exchange for blowing the whistle on the company.

The three are offering to provide evidence to the Cole inquiry that the wheat export
industry is based on a system of kickbacks and bribes to corrupt regimes around the world,
The Australian newspaper reports today.

One former employee, who has already given an anonymous statement to the inquiry, said
making payments to foreign officials was "common practice" at AWB, and it was engaged
in "bad business" in Iran, Pakistan, Yemen and Indonesia.

Two other employees are reportedly also considering giving evidence, but want a guarantee
they would not face prosecution for bribing a foreign official, which carries a maximum
10-year jail term.

There was scope for inquiry head Terence Cole to hear evidence in private, "and that
evidence will be protected" an inquiry spokesman said.

Mr Cole may also, under the commission's terms of reference, recommend such whistleblowers
be granted immunity from prosecution.

AAP ajc/it

KEYWORD: AWB EMPLOYEES

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