WASHINGTON, April 3, 2024 - The World Bank Group today announced the 30-month debarment of Taihan Electric Wire Co., Ltd., also known as Taihan Cable & Solution Co., Ltd. ("Taihan") in connection with collusive and obstructive practices as part of the E-Health Project in Mongolia. Taihan is a Republic of Korea-based company, whose main business is the manufacturing, engineering, and sale of electric and telecommunications cabling.
The debarment makes Taihan 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 responsibility for the underlying sanctionable practices and agrees to meet specified corporate compliance conditions as a condition for release from debarment.
The E-Health Project aimed to improve integration and utilization of health information and e-health solutions for better health service delivery in selected pilot sites. According to the facts of the case, Taihan arranged with two other companies to win and implement a contract under the project, agreeing and concealing that one of the companies, as a local subcontractor, would implement and receive payment for a significant portion of the contract, which is a collusive practice. Taihan also made false statements and concealed requested documents during the World Bank Integrity Vice Presidency's audit, which is an obstructive practice.
The settlement agreement provides for a reduced period of debarment considering the company's cooperation and voluntary remedial actions. As a condition for release from sanction under the terms of the settlement agreement, the company commits to develop and implement 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 Taihan 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.
