The Musafir Group Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy
Introduction
- The Musafir Group is committed to ethical business practices and in particular, to compliance at all times with applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws in all countries where the Group carries on business (collectively, the Anti-Corruption Laws).
- The principles in this anti-bribery and corruption policy document apply to the full range of the Group’s business activities around the world. In addition to legal requirements, the Group believes that long- term, successful business relationships are built on honesty, fairness, and the strength of the Group’s services, and not on unethical business practices. This Policy provides clear rules for Group personnel and third parties engaged in Group business, to ensure compliance with the Anti-Corruption Laws and the Group’s ethical standards and expectations.
Prohibition against bribes and improper payments
- Group Personnel and Business Partners are prohibited from:
- making or receiving bribes in connection with Group business; and
- offering or receiving any financial or other advantage to or from another party with the intention to influence or reward the improper performance of an activity.
- Bribes can take on many shapes and forms but typically they involve corrupt intent. There will usually be a quid pro quo – both parties will benefit.
- A bribe could be direct or indirect promise, offering or authorization of anything of value or the offer or receipt of any kickback fee, reward or other advantage.
- Bribery is the offer, promise, giving, demanding or acceptance of an advantage as an inducement for an action which is illegal or unethical.
- Corruption is the misuse of public office or power for private gain, or misuse of private power in relation to business outside the realm of government.
- Acts of bribery or corruption are designed to influence the individual in the performance of their duty and induce them to act dishonestly.
- If any Group Personnel breaches paragraph 3.1, disciplinary action may be taken against such individual up to and including termination.
- The use of intermediaries for the payment of bribes or other improper payments is prohibited.
- There are no exceptions to the prohibition contained in this Policy against bribes or improper payment activity. The fact that Group Personnel, for example, may be pursuing business in a country where that individual believes corruption is widespread, is part of the culture or way of doing business, or where legal standards governing bribery are unclear, or in a transaction where a Group employee has been solicited for a bribe, will not serve as excuses for engaging in improper payment activity. Nor will evidence that the Group’s competitors may be engaged in improper conduct. No Group Personnel or Business Partner will suffer adverse consequences for refusing to engage in improper payment activity, even if this results in loss of business.
Guidelines on specified activities
- The following “Guidelines” explain how the Policy applies to certain types of activities:
- Facilitating Payments
- There are limited circumstances in which the member of the Group concerned may be permitted to make a payment to a government official without violating the applicable Anti-Corruption Laws. Some Anti-Corruption Laws have a narrow exception for what are known as “facilitating payments” – payments to government employees to expedite or secure the performance of a routine governmental action (Facilitating Payments). Under this exception, for example, it may be permissible to make a Facilitating Payment to obtain permits, licenses or other documents to allow the member of the Group concerned to do business in a certain country; to process governmental papers such as visas and work orders; to provide police protection, mail pick-up and delivery or scheduling inspections; or to provide phone service, power and water supplies, or loading and unloading of cargo.It is the Group’s policy not to make or permit Facilitating Payments of any kind, except in certain limited situations in which a Facilitating Payment is lawful and unavoidable. All Facilitating Payments must be approved by the Chairman or either MD. In addition, all Facilitating Payments must be fairly and accurately recorded and accounted for.
- Gifts
- You may not give or offer a gift to, or accept a gift from, anyone with whom the Group conducts business where the gift would exceed customary courtesies associated with accepted general commercial practice. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that the offer or acceptance of a gift does not create an obligation, or be construed by others to allege favouritism, discrimination or other unacceptable practice.
- Receiving or giving gifts of cash is strictly prohibited.
- If you are requested to offer gifts that exceed the customary courtesies or that could give the appearance of impropriety, you must immediately consult your supervisor and/or the head of your business unit. A gift should not be accepted when to do so is either prohibited under local law or could be viewed as done for the purpose of influencing a business decision or appears to create a conflict of interest for those involved.
- Business entertainment and hospitality
- Hospitality includes meals, invitations to events, functions or other social gatherings in connection with matters related to the business of the Group. These activities are acceptable provided they fall within reasonable bounds.
- Reasonable and proportionate hospitality which seeks to improve the image of the Group, better to present its services, or establish cordial relationships is recognised as an established and important part of doing business. In order to amount to a bribe, hospitality must be intended to induce a person to perform a function improperly.
- Determining the acceptability of a particular form of business entertainment or hospitality requires the exercise of individual judgement. In arriving at this judgement, ask yourself the following:
- What is the intent – is it to build a relationship or is it something else?
- Apply the ‘newspaper test’ – would a newspaper be likely to report the business entertainment or hospitality, and if it did, what would the public’s perception be? For example, an all-expenses paid overseas golfing weekend prior to a tender evaluation would almost certainly give rise to an adverse impression if reported.
- Would you be comfortable in justifying the entertainment/hospitality to Group management?
- If you find it difficult to answer one of these questions, there may be a risk involved which could potentially damage the Group’s reputation and business.
- Circumstances that are usually acceptable include:
- modest/occasional meals with someone with whom the Group does business;
- occasional attendance at sporting, theatre and other cultural events or social gatherings.
- Circumstances which are not acceptable include:
- hospitality or entertainment which is offered for something in return – a ‘quid pro quo’; and
- entertainment of an inappropriate nature.
- The form and cost of acceptable business entertainment or hospitality will depend on a number of factors, including the nature of the relationship with the host or guest, the cost and standard of living in the region and the acceptable forms of business entertainment or hospitality in the region. Should you have any doubt as to what is acceptable in any particular situation you should consult your supervisor and/or the head of your business unit.
- Particular caution must be used in providing entertainment to government officials.
- Business entertainment or hospitality expenses must be properly recorded in the Group member’s books and records.
- Sponsored travel
- In appropriate circumstances, the Group may sponsor reasonable and bona fide travel expenses of customers, potential customers and others that are directly related:
- to promoting or demonstrating the Group’s services; or
- to performing a contract between the Group and the customer; or
- to a fact finding mission to understand relevant foreign markets and regulatory environments.
- These expenses must have a legitimate business purpose and must be limited to those necessary to carry out such purpose.
- Sponsored travel expenses require prior written approval.
- In appropriate circumstances, the Group may sponsor reasonable and bona fide travel expenses of customers, potential customers and others that are directly related:
- Doing business with the government
- Group Personnel must be especially vigilant in dealing with all government officials. Activities that may be permissible when working with private sector partners may be improper or illegal when working with a government official. Group Personnel who have any questions regarding whether interactions with government officials are appropriate should immediately contact D-IA.
- Compliance
- It is the responsibility of all Group Personnel to understand and comply with this Policy.
- Breaches and reporting
- Breach of this Policy may result in disciplinary action for Group Personnel up to and including termination and/ or referral to national law enforcement authorities. Breaches of the Anti-Corruption Laws could also subject the individual who committed the violation to civil or criminal penalties, including substantial fines and potentially lengthy imprisonment. For Business Partners, breach of this policy will lead to termination of the relationship with the Group.
