A new article by whistleblower law firm Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto, LLP (KKC) draws attention to a recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Report that strongly criticises Türkiye’s absolute failure to effectively investigate and prosecute foreign bribery, and for the Turkish government’s interference in foreign bribery proceedings.
The OECD, typically diplomatic in tone, expressed grave concern for effectively every aspect of foreign bribery detection, enforcement, and prosecution in the country, according to the statement by KKC.
The report cites the complete lack of any successful foreign bribery prosecutions, widespread press censorship and intimidation of journalists, and a lack of protections for whistleblowers in its analysis.
“Türkiye’s anti-corruption efforts deserve the ‘F’ grade given by the OECD,” said Stephen M. Kohn, founding partner at KKC. “Türkiye’s lack of whistleblower protections and failure to prosecute corruption cases stand out for its complete failure to adhere to international standards.”
KKC urged Türkiye to implement the OECD’s recommendations, including re-reviewing all policies and procedures on the detection and reporting of foreign bribery, re-reviewing its approach in all regards to prosecution and enforcement of foreign bribery, and to effectively cease censoring foreign bribery accusations in the press.
The consequences of inaction are costly, it warned.
Turkish companies and/or companies operating in Türkiye have paid billions in sanctions to the United States for bribery and corruption violations under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act—funds that Türkiye could have collected if it had developed an effective domestic corruption prosecution framework.
Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto’s article aims to spark reform in a country that, despite its global reputation for integrity, has fallen short of international anti-corruption standards.
