Asian Development Bank (ADB) annual audit report

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) imposed sanctions on 41 firms and 38 individuals last year as a result of its corruption investigations, according to a new report by ADB's Office of the Auditor General, Integrity Division (OAGI). This makes a total of 552 firms and individuals banned from working for ADB since it began investigating corruption allegations in 1998. OAGI, as the focal point of ADB's anticorruption drive, received 186 complaints in 2008, which resulted in 89 investigations. It investigated matters ranging from a medical-benefit fraud case by a former staff member involving less than USD 100 to alleged collusion in bidding for a road construction project worth more than USD 10 million. According to the report, 74% of the cases investigated involved ADB-financed activities, while 18% involved ADB staff members.