World Bank Group Debars Burhani Engineers Ltd.

The World Bank Group announced the 24-month debarment of Burhani Engineers Ltd., an engineering, procurement, and construction company based in Kenya, in connection with fraudulent practices as part of the Energy for Rural Transformation III Project in Uganda.

The debarment makes Burhani Engineers Ltd., and its affiliates, ineligible to participate in projects and operations financed by institutions of the World Bank Group. It is part of a settlement agreement under which the company acknowledges culpability for the underlying sanctionable practices and agrees to meet specified integrity compliance conditions as a condition for release from debarment.

The project was designed to increase access to electricity in rural areas of Uganda. According to the facts of the case, Burhani Engineers Ltd. misrepresented its prior experience in multiple submissions in order to mislead the selection process and obtain contracts under the project, which constitute fraudulent practices under the World Bank’s procurement guidelines.

The settlement agreement provides for a reduced period of debarment in light of Burhani Engineers Ltd.’s cooperation and voluntary remedial actions. As a condition for release from sanction under the terms of the settlement agreement, the company commits to developing and implementing an integrity compliance program that reflects the principles set out in the World Bank Group Integrity Compliance Guidelines. The company also commits to continue to fully cooperate with the World Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency.

The debarment of Burhani Engineers Ltd. qualifies for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions that was signed on April 9, 2010.

Source – World Bank