The Chinese police have arrested 22 people in a bribery investigation from several big companies including ABB, McDonald’s, McKinsey & Company and Whirlpool reported a state-run news agency. However, the government has not announced formal charges, names of the detained persons and the list of companies involved. According to media reports, the bribes have been made to the tune of $500,000 involving company directors and senior employees.
The detentions are a part of an extensive anticorruption drive launched in China. The drive has already toppled many executives and high level government officials. Reportedly, the case is related to the taking of bribes and kickbacks to acquire business contracts.
According to Shanghai Daily, the Shanghai police have said that seven companies and 22 workers are being investigated following the bribery charges. The paper further reported that two executives from a Chinese Computer company have confessed that they had offered bribes to two McKinsey employees.
American and Europeans companies have been repeatedly warned to monitor their employees since marketing deals in China often involve kickbacks. No U.S. and European companies named in the report could provide much detail on the detention. However, an employee of McKinsey & Company requesting anonymity has said that two employees working in the firm’s computer procurement division have been detained in China.
