Corruption won’t stop: is your organisation protected?

In one case, an enforcement agent for a Malaysian government department pleaded guilty for receiving a bribe from a business owner. In another, a U.S. district attorney from Philadelphia was accused of taking cash in return for helping people with their legal cases. He was accused of 28 counts of bribery, and in the end was given a deal to plead guilty on one count. Both cases show how easy it is for organisations to fall victim to bribery and corruption.Businesses, non-profits, government organisations both face a risk to their financial well-being and reputation.

In Malaysia, the case centred around an employee of the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry. According to the article “Domestic Trade enforcement staff fined RM1,200 for bribery” published in the New Straits Times, Muhammad Mat Sa’ad, 36, was charged with taking bribes from a fuel storage owner in 2014. His case was prosecuted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

In the U.S., Philadelphia’s top law enforcement officer, District Attorney R. Seth Williams, pleaded guilty to bribery in a more sweeping case with some very troubling details. According to the New York Times article “Philadelphia District Attorney Pleads Guilty to Bribery and Resigns,” Williams allegedly accepted bribes from business people in return for offers of legal help with their cases or those of their friends. But he may have also defrauded his own mother.

The article states:

“Mr. Williams accepted gifts including a trip to the Dominican Republic and checks for thousands of dollars from people who wanted favours, prosecutors said. According to an indictment by the United States attorney’s office for New Jersey, he promised one of the business people that he would “look into” a case that had been brought against a friend of that person.

He also faced charges including wire fraud and extortion for his alleged personal use of political action committee funds and government vehicles. Among the most damaging charges against Mr. Williams was that he defrauded a nursing home and family friends of money that was designated for the care of his mother.”

He faces a up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

These types of troubling cases can likely be prevented with the right training, internal controls, and certification. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) issued the ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System standard to help companies worldwide increase and measure their efforts against bribery and corruption.

CRI® Group is registered as a foremost ISO 37001:2016 Certification Body with the Dubai Accreditation Center (DAC) Government of Dubai, UAE, and has formally launched its ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems certification program. ISO 37001:2016 certifies that your organisation has implemented reasonable and proportionate measures to prevent bribery. These measures involve top-level leadership, training, bribery risk assessment, due diligence adequacy, financial and commercial controls, reporting, audit and investigation.

Through CRI® Group’s 3PRM-Certified™, the ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System Certification will help your company, organisation or department to reduce risk of bribery and corruption by establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving your management system. The certification empowers you with the ability to safeguard and maintain the integrity of your company by:

• Guaranteeing that all workers and agents are devoted to the latest anti-bribery practice.
• Regularly validating compliance to appropriate legislation like the FCPA and UK Bribery Act 2010.
• Jointly cooperating with stakeholders to observe and reduce the risks throughout your supply chain.
• Externally scrutinising your company, testing the effectiveness of your anti-bribery policies and processes.
• Creating “Compliance in Action.”

ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System certification is offered under CRI® Group’s ABAC® Centre of Excellence, an independent certification body established for Anti-Bribery Management System training and certification, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and Risk Management System certification. The program will be tailored to your organisation’s needs and requirements. For assistance in developing and implementing a fraud prevention strategy, contact ABAC® today or get a FREE QUOTE now!

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening,

In 2016, CRI® Group launched Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC® operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI® Group’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organisations. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

Filed under: Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption Solution, Compliance Solution,

Top 4 Red flags during a Merger & Acquisition

The business world is often transitional, and the landscape changes as entities grow or industries change – and the players involved have to change with it. Mergers and acquisitions are examples of these “transitional times,” and they are also among the most critical times to conduct proper and thorough due diligence.

There are inherent risks involved with the “unknown factor” that outside entities represent. By nature, merging with another entity, or acquiring it altogether, can be an exciting time, but background screening is especially crucial at this juncture.

When conducting due diligence before a merger or acquisition, what are some of the red flags that should make you take a closer look?

CRI® Group has conducted numerous due diligence engagements for clients undertaking major business deals. Our agents have also conducted many investigations for organisations that failed to do proper due diligence, and as a result became victims of fraud. Our findings in those investigations have provided a road-map of things to look for, and be cautious about, when in the pre-merger or pre-acquisition stage.

Here are a few red flags for any organisation undergoing a merger or acquisition:

1. Legal issues

When merging with or acquiring another entity, due diligence will uncover legal proceedings, including any troubling issues that the entity might have been trying to keep hiding. Past or current litigation or even criminal proceedings have been uncovered in background checks.

2. Credit risks

Some potential partners might be financial landmines, bringing the kind of baggage your organisation cannot afford. Has the entity claimed bankruptcy? Have they dissolved prior companies or are they faced with debtor filings? Proper due diligence will uncover these and other financial risk factors.

3. Lack of experience

If your organisation is looking to partner with a contractor or service provider, what is their experience level in the industry? Have they successfully completed past projects of a similar scale? Nothing can hurt your reputation with clients and customers more than having your deliverability affected by a contractor that cannot handle to job.

4. People problems

Hopefully, your organisation conducts thorough employee background screening of all potential and current employees. Can you say the same for the entity you are considering for a merger or acquisition? If not, the risks are great: fraud risks, criminal conduct, even employees without the needed training or skill level doing dangerous jobs could all come back to damage your own organisation and reputation. Comprehensive and thorough background screening, including of owners and principals (perhaps these are most important) will uncover such risks.

None of these red flags, on their own, are necessarily absolute roadblocks to a proposed merger or acquisition. Some scenarios can be explained, and certain circumstances simply require a fuller explanation.

But the key is having the information. In business, being surprised is generally not a good thing. This is never more true than when dealing with mergers and acquisitions.

Staying one step ahead of any critical risk to your organisation is part of being an effective business leader. Contact us today and get your FREE QUOTE now!

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening,

In 2016, CRI® Group launched Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC® operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI Group’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organisations. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

Filed under: Automotive, Aviation, Employee Background Check, Finance & Professional services Industry, Insurance, IT & Telecommunications, Oil, Gas & Energy, Pharmaceutical & Healthcare, Property, Resources by admin
No Comments »

Any successful ethics and compliance strategy needs 5 key ingredients …

Once upon a time, the idea of business ethics was more of an abstract or philosophical notion that seemed more suited for discussion in a university lecture or at a business conference. Today, however, organisations of all sizes and industries must have concrete ways of addressing ethics and compliance issues as a principal component of their business processes and strategy. 

According to a study by PwC, 98 per cent of senior leaders say they’re committed to compliance and ethics; however, only 67 per cent have a process in place to identify the owners of compliance and ethics-related risks, with only a third having an officer in place for the overall compliance and ethics. Fifty-six per cent of the companies don’t have a chief ethics officer at all, and only 20 per cent have a Board of Directors that formed separate compliance and ethics committees. The study reports that 82 per cent of leaders communicated with employees on ethics, but 46 per cent of this is done in business meetings or by email. You can read the result on the full PwC website.

Business leaders are usually quick to communicate their expectations to employees, especially when it comes to financial goals or tasks that they want to be accomplished. However, what is often lacking is a clear, concise explanation of what the organisation expects regarding ethical behaviour and a compliance framework in place to follow. Today citizens, media, politicians and international bodies across all regions actively condemn abuses of power. And past scandals and their consequences have created a demand for increased regulations, greater transparency, and other rigorous scrutiny measures to be taken. To maintain (or regain) public trust, the ethics and compliance function has been placed at the centre of the strategic core of organisations by effective leaders.

Empower your organisation to mitigate risk!

To ensure a robust compliance and ethics strategy, five critical elements need to be implemented; 1) tone at the top; 2) corporate culture; 3) risk management, 4) a Chief Compliance Officer; and 4) testing and monitoring.

1 – Building Tone at the Top

“Tone at the top” is a term used to describe the ethical atmosphere created at an organisation or workplace by their leaders and their attitudes and behaviours. Tone at the top is vital in determining whether fraud, bribery, or corruption are likely to occur. Because all levels of management set it, it has a trickle-down effect on all employees. If the top leaders show a robust and zero-tolerance approach to fraud, employees are likely to lead by example.

An organisation with a strong ethical culture is usually led by a board of directors and senior management personnel who actively promote a culture of compliance and zero tolerance for fraud and other unethical business behaviour. Effective tone at the top will communicate to the organisation at all levels the expected type of conduct, what is considered unacceptable, and what the consequences will be for transgressions. A zero-tolerance approach should be followed at all times; it is vital in maintaining the culture of ethics and compliance at the organisation; below are some examples of failed tone at the top:

• The Enron scandal
• Arthur Andersen obstruction of justice
• Xerox fined by SEC
• Scandals at Fannie Mae
• Global financial crisis
• Tyco Scandal
• MCI Inc/WorldCom
• ImClone Systems trading case

For more scandals, check out our list of the “Top 10 Bribery & Corruption Stories of 2020“.

2 – Corporate culture

The prevailing norms, expectations, and recognised acceptable behaviour form the corporate culture of an organisation. By implementing an ethical code of conduct and compliance with all regulations a part of those norms, the organisation will help promote positive behaviour and integrity among its staff. 

You might be making assumptions that your employees know how to conduct themselves ethically when, in fact, this expectation only exists in a grey area in their minds – if at all. Some employees who have engaged in fraud, corruption or other unethical situations have claimed that while they knew their behaviour was wrong, they thought it was implicitly accepted by their bosses and, in some cases, their company on the whole.

Similar to establishing an effective tone at the top, fostering a positive corporate culture hinges on effective communication, and it needs to permeate different layers of the organisation. In other words, sending occasional emails about ethical behaviour isn’t enough to influence the culture at a company. Develop videos, team-building exercises, new employee orientations, and employee appreciation events; these provide opportunities to recognise positive behaviour and reinforce the company’s values. When employees see their colleagues being recognised and rewarded for maintaining a compliant and ethical corporate culture, they are more likely to help cultivate an ethical workplace. When the tone at the top and corporate culture are tied together, everyone understands what is acceptable and expected in being a part of the organisation’s success.

3 – Risk management: perform risk assessments

Risk management is identifying, evaluating, and prioritising risks (defined in ISO 31000 as the effect of uncertainty on objectives) followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimise, monitor, and control the probability or impact of unfortunate events to maximise the realisation of opportunities. In other words, before you establish an ethics and compliance framework – first, a risk assessment should be conducted to uncover any vulnerabilities that need to be addressed with new processes. 

> Risk assessment breakdown: Identification, Analysis, Evaluation   

This means you need to assess how your business is conducted. So ask yourself:

• Have the various roles at the company been appropriately allocated, and is there a proper separation of duties?
• Are employees qualified for their responsibilities?
• Is the workforce trained to recognise the red flags of unethical behaviour and fraud?

Once the risks are identified, they can be isolated and addressed as part of your organisation’s comprehensive approach to ethics and compliance. The risks should be prioritised:

• Which ones pose an immediate threat?
• Could they effectively shut down the business?
• Do they pose a risk of financial, legal, or reputational risk – or all of the above?

Once prioritised, the identified risks should be assigned to critical members of the organisation. Whatever your reasons or motivations might be, if your organisation’s objective is to have an effective risk management strategy in place, then ISO 31000 can provide the principles, framework and a process for managing risk.

4 – A Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)

The implementation of a robust ethics and compliance strategy can give your organisation a competitive edge. A compliance officer or a CCO plays an essential and crucial role in the implementation. They are tasked with the day-to-day responsibility of overseeing the management of compliance and ethical risks whilst ensuring that the organisation is in compliance with the various regulatory requirements and that employees adhere to internal procedures and policies. Oversight should be provided by the board of directors (or ownership and executives) to ensure that problem areas have been adequately addressed and the organisation is taking a proactive approach to mitigating risk. 

5 – Testing and monitoring

When all the new processes have been implemented (the anti-fraud policy and employee code-of-conduct, anti-bribery and anti-corruption training and policies, allocation of duties and responsibilities, an anonymous reporting -hotline- process for unethical behaviour), a thorough testing and monitoring regimen is critical to ensure the new process is working. 

It is important to remember that having the best processes on paper won’t make a positive difference on its own. You need to monitor how they are being used and their success. A schedule should be in place that promotes frequent, regular check-ups of the ethics and compliance controls, with metrics that show results (i.e. surprise audits). A surprise audit is an effective way to test if any new controls have reduced the flagged irregularities. Before implementing ethics and compliance controls, the risk assessments should have identified risk areas with the new processes to mitigate that risk. Only by testing and testing frequently can the organisation determine if the new controls have the desired effect. If they are not, the company should develop new solutions that specifically robustly target these problem areas – and, in time, test them again.

Addressing ethics and compliance issues at an organisation can be a daunting task. However, with careful preparation, expert help, and a common-sense approach, any organisation can develop or enhance its corporate culture to be proactive in mitigating ethics and compliance risks. The benefits will be obvious – increased productivity, better security, and empowered employees who understand that their organisation values integrity and an ethical work environment.

Create a zero-tolerance approach to fraud with ISO 37001 ABMS

Creating a zero-tolerance approach to fraud doesn’t happen overnight. When your organisation enrols in ISO 37001:2016 ABMS training and certification, the program involves your entire team. The training helps establish an ethical culture by educating your employees on the following:

• What constitutes fraud, corruption, and bribery, and why these are so damaging to business
• How to identify red flags of fraud, corruption and bribery
• The process for reporting fraudulent and unethical acts
• The organisation’s zero-tolerance attitude toward unethical behaviour and willingness to terminate employees for breaches and prosecute unethical acts
• The severe ramifications for committing fraud or bribery, the legal consequences, and the negative impact on one’s career

Employees shouldn’t be expected to follow a code of conduct that they aren’t aware exists. That’s why ISO 37001:2016 ABMS creates a communication plan through which organisation leaders regularly communicate their ethical behaviour expectations to the staff periodically. Read more on how to build trust in the workplace with ISO 37001 Certification.

About CRI Group

Based in London, CRI Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, 

In 2016, CRI Group launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC® operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI Group’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organisations. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

Speak up – report any illegal, unethical, or improper behaviour

If you find yourself in an ethical dilemma or suspect inappropriate or illegal conduct, and you feel uncomfortable reporting through normal communication channels or wish to raise the issue anonymously, use CRI Group’s Compliance Hotline. The Compliance Hotline is a secure and confidential reporting channel managed by an independent provider. When reporting a concern in good faith, you will be protected by CRI Group’s Non-Retaliation Policy. COMPLIANCE HOTLINE

Filed under: All Industries, All Solutions, Automotive, Aviation, Compliance Solution, Finance & Professional services Industry, Global, Insurance, ISO 37001, IT & Telecommunications, Leadership Insights, Oil, Gas & Energy, Property, Resources by admin
1 Comment »

Building trust in the workplace with TPRM and ABMS Certification:

One of the most important aspects of any organisation is its culture. How do employees relate to one another? Is it a positive and enriching place to work? Do employees trust their colleagues, and look forward to working with them? ISO 37001:2016 Certification

Unfortunately, an organisation that lacks proper controls against fraud, bribery and corruption and falls short on compliance standards is likely to have a negative office culture, as well. Employees who see their colleagues bending or even breaking rules will have a diminished view of their organisation as a whole, and won’t feel they can depend on their fellow employees to do the right thing.

That’s why ISO 37001:2016 training and certification is so important. First of all, ISO 37001:2016 isn’t just for the security team or executives. It involves the entire organisation. Staff learn how to recognise red flags of noncompliance for bribery and fraud, and how to report them. They also gain an understanding that the organisation won’t tolerate unethical behaviour.

Expert training from an accredited body

CRI®  is registered as a foremost ISO 37001:2016 Certification Body with the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC) Government of Dubai, UAE, and has formally launched its ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems certification program.

Through CRI® Group’s 3PRM-Certified™, the ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System Certification will help your company, organisation or department to reduce risk of bribery and corruption by establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving your management system.

When everyone is on the same page and playing as a team, the organisation is stronger because employees trust one another to do the right thing. Those “grey areas” of rule-bending and non-compliance are no longer grey. The organisation culture dictates that only ethical behaviour and compliance with anti-bribery and anti-fraud standards will be acceptable.

When an organisation undertakes our partner’s ISO 37001:2016 training from ABAC® Center of Excellence, employees understand that ethical behaviour is the norm, and anything outside of those bounds will be punished – perhaps with the loss of their job, or even prosecution.

The training helps establish an ethical culture by educating your employees on the following:

• What constitutes fraud, corruption, and bribery, and why these are so damaging to business
• How to identify red flags of fraud, corruption and bribery
• The process for reporting fraudulent and unethical acts
• The organisation’s zero-tolerance attitude toward unethical behaviour and willingness to terminate employees for breaches, and prosecute unethical acts
• The serious ramifications for committing fraud or bribery, the legal consequences, and the negative impact on one’s career

Get started today

Learn more about ABAC® Center of Excellence’s ISO 37001:2016 training and certification at ABACGroup.com. Set the tone in your workplace today, and create a culture that nurtures trust and productivity. Sign your company up for ISO 37001:2016 training and certification, and create the zero-tolerance atmosphere toward fraud, corruption and bribery that will help your organisation and your employees be ethical and successful.

Other Solutions

While CRI® may not offer the ABMS certification, we do offer other services. We specialise in solutions regarding compliance, working as trusted partners to businesses and institutions across the globe. Our experts work with energy, insight and care to ensure we provide a positive experience to everyone involved – clients, reference providers and candidates. CRI® Group’s unique identity and vision evolved from our fundamental desire to support our clients and their candidates, thus creating the DueDiligence360™.

The DueDiligence360™ reports help organisations comply with anti-money laundering, anti-bribery, and anti-corruption regulations. This service also proves beneficial ahead of a merger, acquisition, or joint venture as it can be used for a third-party risk assessment, onboarding decision-making, and identifying beneficial ownership structures. Identifying key risk issues clearly and concisely helps enhance your knowledge and understanding of the customer, supplier, and third-party risk, helping you avoid those involved with financial crime.

Why not consider our background investigative solutions? 

Our solutions are also certified by the British Standard Institute BSI for the scope of BS 7858:2019 Screening of individuals working in a secure environment, Code of practice (the only BS 7858 certified background screening services provider in the UAE and across the Middle East); and BS 102000:2018 Code of practice for the provision of investigative services.

Another risk management solution to consider from CRI® is our Third-Party Risk Management solution (TPRM), also known as 3PRM™. In the wake of the global pandemic, the 3PRM-Certified™ was developed in a bid to aid organisations in accurately determining the legal compliance, financial viability, and integrity levels of external parties, vendors, and customers who seek to be affiliated with and represent the business.

The 3PRM-Certified™ program consists of gap analysis and investigative due diligence on the targeted above parties. This highly thorough program reveals anti-corruption, compliance and risk management discrepancies associated with the international regulatory framework helping your business to flourish at any scale. Find out more about CRI® Group’s Risk Management Solutions.

If you’re unsure of what solution may be best for you and your business, how about connecting with one of our experts for a free consultation? Receive tailored advice from the top analysts and investigators across the globe.

اتصل بنا

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, 

In 2016, CRI® Group launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body that provides education and certification services for individuals and organisations on a wide range of disciplines and ISO standards, including ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management- Guidelines; ISO 37000:2021 Governance of Organisations; ISO 37002:2021 Whistleblowing Management System; ISO 37301:2021 (formerly ISO 19600) Compliance Management system (CMS); Anti-Money Laundering (AML); and ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems ABMS. ABAC® offers a complete suite of solutions designed to help organisations mitigate the internal and external risks associated with operating in multi-jurisdiction and multi-cultural environments while assisting in developing frameworks for strategic compliance programs. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

Filed under: Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption Solution, Compliance Solution, ISO 37001, Resources by admin
No Comments »

Background screening; your first line of protection

An extra layer of security

As a global investigative firm with a network of 76 agents worldwide, CRI® Group has the resources and expertise needed to implement thorough and comprehensive pre-and post-employment screening. As part of our EmploySmart^TM program, we have conducted more than 187,000 individual background checks, serving top companies of many industry sectors worldwide. CRI® Group’s thorough background screening includes the following:

• Identity: Some job candidates will fabricate a new identity, especially if they have something to hide. Proper screening can verify addresses, phone numbers and other identifying information to confirm that they are who they claim to be.
• Employment: Screening will verify past employers, locations of past employment, dates employed, salary levels, reasons for leaving, position titles, gaps in employment history and pertinent contact information.
• Education: Education verification is needed to confirm school grades, degrees and professional qualifications.
• Criminal history: International criminal records searches are critically important and should include any convictions for the applicant in the requested jurisdictions.
• Character references: Sometimes overlooked is the need to follow up on references provided by the applicant.
• Credit history: As permitted by local laws, financial and credit history should be reviewed, as fraud statistics have shown financial distress to be a key red flag for fraudulent behaviour.

Case studies from our experience 

While conducting expert background screening for a client, CRI® Group uncovered disturbing details about an applicant. When this individual’s previous employers were contacted, one of them reported that the applicant was hired without any prior experience, was trained for a couple of months, and then terminated due to committing cash embezzlement as well as participating in harassment and workplace violence. A second employment verification revealed his termination, as he caused a financial loss to the company.

In another case, the CRI® Group screened 18 degrees claimed from a single university. By contacting the university and examining documents and records, CRI® Group found an astounding 5 of them (27.7 per cent) to be fake and/or forged. In the end, whether your company employs 10 or 1,000, your employee roster doesn’t have to be a minefield of mysteries or unknowns. With effective background screening, your business will be more secure, and your trust in your employees well-placed.

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, 

Filed under: Employee Background Check, Resources by admin
No Comments »

Do you have a third-party risk management (TPRM) strategy in place?

It’s highly probable that, at some point, organisations that affiliate with outside providers will eventually have to deal with an operational interruption resulting from a third-party related issue. However, the risks involved in partnering with outsiders are many and complex. International orders have been ripped down. Technology has improved the way businesses communicate. Easy access to data and information enables the media to report on the business news before a business can properly respond. And the markets are quick to form opinions based on a 24/7 on-demand news cycle. The potential liabilities have been ratcheted up several notches. More than ever, managing the third party risk is key to businesses’ survival.

Managing the third party risk

The result of this increased liability is problematic. Business litigation has skyrocketed. Corporate reputations are constantly being assaulted. Business strategies are forever shifting. Board members are becoming increasingly subjected to intense scrutiny from outside critics. And a highly educated market responds immediately with their pocketbooks.

VIEW 3PRM BROCHURE

Third-party risk is a “board-level” issue

Recent data breaches at Fortune 500 companies such as JPMorgan Chase, Apple iCloud, Home Depot, and Target raise serious concerns about the private sector’s information security and third-party risk management practices. Regulations regarding third-party risk have been updated constantly in recent years because of it. Industry regulators’ heavy media attention and penalties have spotlighted third-party risk management. And it is now regarded as a top priority for all levels of management within large organisations.

Various regulators and industry bodies have all issued their third-party risk management guidelines creating an overlap of requirements depending on the services that the organisation may have outsourced.

CRI® Group has a network of local subject specialist operatives across the Middle East and Asian regions, can extend a helping hand and offer integrity due diligence being preemptive measures against:

• Experiencing financial loss when a third-party provider failed;
• Losing customers because of poor-quality service from a third-party;
• Exposing breaches to data systems because of poor security practices by a third-party;
• Experiencing supply chain issues due to poor disaster recovery procedures by the third-party;
• And being exposed to litigation because of relationships with an outside provider significantly violated contractual terms, potentially resulting in regulatory exposure.

When Working with Third-Party Providers, CRI® Group designed the solution: “3PRM” Third-Party Risk Management Strategy! A proactive approach to mitigate the risks involved with Third-Party affiliations to protect the organisation from liability, business interruption and brand damage.

Are you establishing the legal compliance, financial viability, and integrity levels of outside partners, suppliers and customers seeking to affiliate with your business?

Staying one step ahead of any critical risk to your organisation is part of being an effective business leader. Contact us today to implement a robust program that will serve you well for years to come.

GET A FREE QUOTE NOW

Filed under: Resources,

ISO 37001 certification: enhance your reputation and credibility

Bribery and corruption are serious concerns to businesses, government agencies and non-profit organisations. In fact, the risk of being associated with the negative impacts of this type of fraud extends to third party partners and influences present and future businesses relationships.

In this business climate, consider the tremendous advantage your organisation will enjoy if it is ISO 37001:2016 certified to prevent bribery and corruption, a designation you can proudly communicate to the public and market to potential partners. CRI® Group‘s ® Center of Excellence provides that assurance – not just to you, but to your potential partners, as well.

Due diligence as a critical business tool

When it comes to due diligence, CRI®  helps organisations thoroughly evaluate third-party partners for red flags, such as:

• Reputational risk
• Compliance risk
• Operational risk
• Business risk
• Strategic risk
• Credit risk
• Country/location risk

The flip side of that coin is that organisations that are identified as ethical and maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to fraud gain immediate preference over others in their industry or field. By engaging with CRI® Group, your organisation can immediately see the benefits of ISO 37001:2016 certification by being established and recognised as a potential partner or provider that is ethical and effective at preventing bribery and corruption, satisfying all of the risk criteria above.

The benefits of being certified

Here are just a few of the benefits of participating in training and certification opportunities offered through ABAC® Center of Excellence:

• ISO 37001:2016 certification helps ensure that your organisation is implementing a viable anti-bribery management system.
• It provides assurance to management, investors, business associates, personnel and other stakeholders that the organisation is actively pursuing internationally recognised and accepted processes to prevent bribery and corruption.
• In legal proceedings, having completed the certification process provides acceptable evidence to prosecutors or courts that the organisation has taken reasonable steps to prevent bribery and corruption.
• Certification helps set your organisation apart as a proactive, ethical team that would be a preferred partner, supplier and/or service provider for other businesses or agencies.

Don’t delay – the sooner your organisation is certified to prevent bribery and corruption, the sooner you can build stronger and more beneficial relationships.

ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System certification is offered under CRI® Group’s ABAC® Centre of Excellence, an independent certification body established for Anti-Bribery Management System training and certification, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and Risk Management System certification. The program will be tailored to your organisation’s needs and requirements. For assistance in developing and implementing a fraud prevention strategy, contact ABAC® today or get a FREE QUOTE now!

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, 

In 2016, CRI® Group launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body that provides education and certification services for individuals and organisations on a wide range of disciplines and ISO standards, including ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management- Guidelines; ISO 37000:2021 Governance of Organisations; ISO 37002:2021 Whistleblowing Management System; ISO 37301:2021 (formerly ISO 19600) Compliance Management system (CMS); Anti-Money Laundering (AML); and ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems ABMS. ABAC® offers a complete suite of solutions designed to help organisations mitigate the internal and external risks associated with operating in multi-jurisdiction and multi-cultural environments while assisting in developing frameworks for strategic compliance programs. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

Filed under: Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption Solution, Compliance Solution,

2nd ABAC Summit Announced in KL

After the great success of last year’s Anti-Bribery Summit, the 2nd ABAC Summit Announced in KL

CRI® Group is pleased to announce the upcoming Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC) Summit 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 25 September 2018. This is the second year for the ABAC Summit, providing invaluable expertise in due diligence, internal controls and compliance issues, along with showcasing the latest resources and solutions to detect and combat bribery and corruption within organizations.

The one-day summit is a must-attend event for anyone working in anti-bribery and anti-corruption, due diligence, risk management, and anti-fraud such as CEOs, CFOs, Chief Legal Officers, Chief Compliance Officers, In-house Counsels, Compliance Managers, Lawyers and Auditors, Heads of Procurement and Other officers responsible for Compliance and Anti-Corruption.

Last year’s Anti-Bribery Summit was a great success, with critical topics presented by leading experts in anti-bribery and anti-corruption compliance. This year aims to be even better, with an agenda that includes the following highlights:

• A welcome introduction by Zafar Anjum MSc, CFE, Intl. Dip. (Fin. Crime). As founder and CEO of CRI® Group, Zafar Anjum has dedicated 28 years to the areas of fraud prevention, protective integrity, security and compliance. His expertise helps create secure networks across challenging global markets.

• Mohd Nur Lokman Bin Samingan, Assistant Commissioner at Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), will present “MACC (Amendment) Act 2018: Section 17A, ‘Offence by Commercial Organization’”. Mohd Nur Lokman Bin Samingan has vast experience as an investigator and a prosecuting officer, and is currently attached to the Community Education Division of MACC as the head of Private Sector Branch. He engages business entities, corporations and private companies in cultivating anti-corruption awareness.

• Dr KM Loi, Vice-Chairman of ISO/PC 278 (ISO 37001:2016), Co-convenor of ISO/TC 309 WG2 (ISO 37001 Handbook), will present “ISO 37001:2016 – Management Tool to Address Corporate Liability Provision”. Dr KM Loi is an anti-bribery expert with 20 years of management skills in quality consulting, training and auditing with wide exposure to various industries in the context of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 13485, IATF 16949, ISO 26000, ISO 37001, SA8000 & OHSAS 18001.

• Drago Kos, Chairman of Organization for Economic Co-Operation & Development, will present “Corporate Integrity Guarantees Prosperity”. Drago Kos is the Chairman of the OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions, Co-Chair of the Defence Corruption Monitoring Committee in Ukraine and adviser to the Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency.

• Cristian Nicoara, Independent Expert Consultant; Justice, Anti-Corruption, and Security Sector Reform Adviser, will present “Anti-Corruption Agencies are Fighting an Imbalanced Battle. Where to Find the Allies?” Cristian Nicoara is a former Romanian investigative prosecutor with 15 years specialisation in major crimes, anti-corruption and financial investigations.

• Md Alimuddin Rahim, Group Integrity Officer at Petra Energy Berhad, will present “Role of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Foundation (NGO) in assisting Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)”. Md Alimuddin Rahim has more than 20 years’ experience in his industry – he is the Secretary General at Malaysian Anti-Corruption Foundation and also works as Group Integrity Officer at Petra Energy Berhad.

• Presenter Cynthia Gabriel, Executive Director at The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center), human rights advocate and anti-corruption leader in Malaysia will present “New Lessons from 1MDB: The evolving actors in modern money laundering”. Cynthia Gabriel has experience advancing and promoting human rights, good governance and democratic freedoms. She founded the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4), a NED grantee, which works to promote good governance and conducts a multifaceted project designed to encourage public participation in efforts to combat corruption.

• A special panel discussion and Q&A session will feature all of the keynote speakers.

• An hour at the conclusion for additional networking among attendees, with refreshments provided.

CRI® Group founder and CEO Zafar Anjum said that after the success of last year’s inaugural event in Pakistan, he is excited about the second Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“This year’s agenda was developed to provide you with invaluable information and foresight into the forces that guide and dictate our everyday work life: the ongoing quest for solutions, balance, and insight into the oftentimes chaotic world of anti-bribery and corporate corruption compliance”, Anjum wrote.

This is a critical time for world markets and economies. The latest Corruption Perceptions Index shows that “most countries around the world are making little or no progress in ending corruption” (Transparency international, titled “Corruption perception index 2017”, 2018).

That’s why the expertise, best practises and resources shared by the leading industry experts at the ABAC Summit are more important than ever. In the Asia Pacific region alone, the majority of countries are in the lower half of this year’s Corruption Perceptions Index. This is because bribery is still a key problem, made worse by unaccountable governments, lack of oversight, instability and insecurity.

There are positive signs as well. Officials in Malaysia, the host country of this year’s ABAC Summit, have made strides in the fight against bribery and corruption. According to MACC, 879 offenders – from top management to lower level staff, in both the public and private sectors – were arrested last year. This demonstrates Malaysia’s commitment to bringing offenders to justice.

Time is running out to make your plans to attend ABAC 2018 and get an edge on the latest best practices, laws, regulations and compliance, presented by the foremost experts in the field. Meet the colleagues you networked with at last year’s event; or make new connections with CEOs, CFOs, other executives, directors, lawyers, auditors, legal officers, compliance officers and others who face the same anti-fraud and anti-corruption challenges as you.

Visit www.anticorruptionsummit.com and reserve your spot today. Early bird registration (50 percent off!) is available until 30 August.

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, 

In 2016, CRI® Group launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body that provides education and certification services for individuals and organisations on a wide range of disciplines and ISO standards, including ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management- Guidelines; ISO 37000:2021 Governance of Organisations; ISO 37002:2021 Whistleblowing Management System; ISO 37301:2021 (formerly ISO 19600) Compliance Management system (CMS); Anti-Money Laundering (AML); and ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems ABMS. ABAC® offers a complete suite of solutions designed to help organisations mitigate the internal and external risks associated with operating in multi-jurisdiction and multi-cultural environments while assisting in developing frameworks for strategic compliance programs. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

Filed under: CRI News, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur by admin
Comments Off on 2nd ABAC Summit Announced in KL

Internal Control: Identify Vulnerabilities through TPRM Assessment

CRI® Group’s Third-Party Risk Assessments are front-line tools used to ascertain whether an organisation has the appropriate policies and procedures in place to address all potential risks at the management, operations and financial levels and simulates the likelihood of those risks occurring.

A 3PRM^TM assessment includes a review of internal auditing procedures, compliance guidelines, performance criteria, internal controls, reporting processes, and contractual requirements vital to fostering a long-term positive outcome with the third-party provider when looking at the relationship from a cost-benefit standpoint. A 3PRM^TM assessment verifies whether the proposed third-party relationship is consistent with the organisation’s strategic plan and overall business strategy. Specific areas addressed in a 3PRM^TM assessment include:

• Audit and supervision functions that assign clearly defined responsibilities within the organisation
• Business continuity plans that take into account natural disasters and third-party business closures
• Supply-chain alternatives that react and respond to every possible scenario, from regional events to currency fluctuations
• Jurisdictional considerations and affiliations with potential partners located in regions that may be prohibited by law
• Data and intellectual property protection, which includes customer privacy and information security considerations
• Anti-corruption and whistle-blower policies begin with staff education and extend to safe internal and external reporting mechanisms which are easily accessible to management and staff.

Our 3PRM^TM assessments ensure tight controls to mitigate key risks and designate specific staff responsible for maintaining those controls. Any gaps detected in those controls are addressed during the assessment phase.

VIEW 3PRM^TM BROCHURE

CRI® Group invites you to schedule a quick appointment with us to discuss how conducting our 3PRM^TM assessment can help you and your organisation. 

GET A FREE QUOTE

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, 

Filed under: All Industries, All Regions, Industry Insights, Resources,

Fraud Advisory Panel celebrates 20 Years

CRI Group wishes to congratulate Fraud Advisory Panel on the 20th anniversary. It was a pleasure to attend the event and celebrate this great occasion of FAP fighting fraud for 20 years. It has been a great honor to be the member of the panel. Looking forward to continuing working together in the future!

Connect with us for Risk, Compliance and Anti-Bribery solutions across 80 countries.

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, 

In 2016, CRI® Group launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body that provides education and certification services for individuals and organisations on a wide range of disciplines and ISO standards, including ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management- Guidelines; ISO 37000:2021 Governance of Organisations; ISO 37002:2021 Whistleblowing Management System; ISO 37301:2021 (formerly ISO 19600) Compliance Management system (CMS); Anti-Money Laundering (AML); and ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems ABMS. ABAC® offers a complete suite of solutions designed to help organisations mitigate the internal and external risks associated with operating in multi-jurisdiction and multi-cultural environments while assisting in developing frameworks for strategic compliance programs. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

Filed under: Compliance Solution, Industry Insights, Resources by admin
No Comments »