United States v. Gautam Sengupta (D.D.C. 2002)
United States v. Ramendra Basu (D.D.C. 2002)

• Case Name
• United States v. Gautam Sengupta (D.D.C. 2002)
  United States v. Ramendra Basu (D.D.C. 2002)

• Date Filed
• 01/30/2002

• Enforcement Agency
• DOJ

• Countries
• Kenya

• Foreign Official
• Unnamed Kenyan Government Official.

• Date of Conduct
• 1999

• Nature of Business
• Securing World Bank financing for projects in Africa.

• Influence to be Obtained
• Gautam Sengupta and Ramendra Basu (the “Defendants”) worked at the World Bank as task managers.  Their role was to select consultants who would conduct feasibility studies on proposed World Bank projects.  A World Bank trust fund manager introduced the idea that all parties could benefit by awarding contracts to the Swedish consultant.  The Defendants consequently caused three contracts to be awarded to the consultant, including one for an urban transport program in Kenya.  A Kenyan government official heading this World Bank project contacted the Defendants requesting a bribe.  Under the Defendants’ direction, the money was transferred to an account in Kenya for the benefit of the official from an account controlled by the Swedish consultant.

• Enforcement
• In 2002, the Defendants pleaded guilty to a two-count information including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and a violation of the FCPA.  Basu and Sengupta agreed to restitution in the amount of $127,000.  In May 2006, Basu filed a motion to withdraw the plea of guilty.  The motion was denied on January 23, 2008, on the grounds that the plea was entered voluntarily, and that Basu’s claim of innocence lacked evidentiary support.  On April 25, 2008, Basu was sentenced to 15 months in prison, 2 years supervised release, and 50 hours of community service.  In February 2006, Sengupta was sentenced to 2 months imprisonment and a fine of $6,000.

• Amount of the Value
• $127,000

• Amount of Business Related to Payment
• Not Stated.

• Intermediary
• Swedish Consultant.

• Total Sanction
• $ 6,000

• Compliance Monitor
• No

• Reporting Requirements
• No

• Case is Pending?
• No

Gautam Sengupta

• Citation
• United States v. Sengupta, No. 02-cr-40 (D.D.C. 2002);

• Date Filed
• 01/30/2002

• Filed Under Seal
• No

• FCPA Statutory Provision
• • Anti-Bribery

• Other Statutory Provision
• Conspiracy (Wire Fraud).

• Disposition
• Plea Agreement

• Defendant Jurisdictional Basis
• Territorial Jurisdiction

• Individual Sanction
• 2-Months Imprisonment; $6,000 Criminal Fine.

Ramendra Basu

• Citation
• United States v. Basu, No. 02-cr-475 (D.D.C. 2002).

• Date Filed
• 11/26/2002

• Filed Under Seal
• No

• FCPA Statutory Provision
• • Anti-Bribery

• Other Statutory Provision
• Conspiracy (Wire Fraud).

• Disposition
• Plea Agreement

• Defendant Jurisdictional Basis
• Territorial Jurisdiction

• Defendant's Citizenship
• India

• Individual Sanction
• 15-Months Imprisonment.