China Harbor Engineering Co in bribery scandal

| 23/06/2011

(SeattlePI): A Bangladesh court Thursday sentenced the fugitive son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to six years in jail for laundering money taken as bribes from two global companies. Judge Mohammad Mozammel Hossain said in his verdict Arafat Rahman was guilty of smuggling more than 200 million takas ($2.66 million) to Singapore. The judge also fined Rahman 190 million takas ($2.53 million) and asked authorities to get the smuggled money returned. Rahman, the younger son of Zia, was accused of taking bribes from China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. and the Bangladesh subsidiary of Germany's industrial giant Siemens AG for helping them win government contracts during his mother's 2001-2006 premiership.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Anyone interested in China's human rights record should check out the treatment metered out to practitioners of Falun Gong. If the photographs of the mutilated don't turn your stomach I don't know what will. Why are we engaging with such a murderous regime? To save money? Poor us.

  2. Dred says:

    I want to say this smells a lot.

    In light of what has been found out about CHEC I believe an investigation into the awarding of this MOU needs to be done.

    A politician could easily hide a payout in a deal like this.

  3. Anonymous says:

    China is now the new player on the block, "We need China, China don't need us".

  4. Anonymous says:

    Would prefer DECO any day, 3rd world countries are hot beds for bribery.  Caymanians this is a good example of what probably happened with the CHEC deal signed in Jamaica.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Good Job CNS keep up the good reporting, we don't needfeel good news when we are drowning in mess we need to clean this mess up and the only way to do this is to sweep it out in the open. 

    Again good job CNS this is the problem with Cayman and Caymanians sweep it under the rug and it will be business as usual until you move the carpet and see the mountain of dirt.

  6. A naw no mouse says:

    What is it that the Governor does to provide for "Good Governance" these days?

    Wouldn't happen under Dan Dugauy's watch without some very probing questions!

  7. Anonymous says:

    Same company different players, those countries are know for their politicians accepting bribes the world over, but here with our Premier there is nothing to be concerned about our leader's heart is pure.  He is a fine Christian man who is above lying, cheating and bribery.

  8. been there done that says:

    cns, really I use to enjoy most of your post,but you all seem to be coming a scandal paper.what about all the positive things that are happening everday in this country.ie Westbay Primary School Graduation,or the ground breaking of the NorthSide FireStation extension,The completion of the EastEnd Canteen,The award ceremony this week at the Clifton Hunter Hall for our young Caymanian students,not one word was heard,you all are becoming the very tiger you set out to conquor.Lets get people thinking positively at all times.we all know that gossip sells,but right now this beloved country needs some positive vibes. ONE LOVE

     

  9. cow itch says:

    the "menu of understanding" consisted of chicken chop suey.. mac's favorite dish – deal made!

    • Geo says:

      You know it’s really sad when pot curse the Kettle black and then forget that if you spit in the sky it fall in ya dam eye. People talk about due diligence and the Udp and cow fat and donkey dead
      . It was not too long ago when the ppm government and it’s cronies allowed a so called professor to get away with using luxury car fooling them wih fake degrees and nary a word was is or will be said by their very erudite supporters. What a mess we in ,! The truth is we must all pluck the ting outa ya eye before ya try to deal with another persons eye.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Great time to open a chinese restaurant in town to feed all the chinese workers!    You will have a well perfoming positive revenue for 49+ years!

  11. Anonymous says:

    It's not about getting in the way of progress. It is how we go about it. It has to be ethical. We have to make sure that our politicians are not receiving kick backs entering in to an agreement with a company who is under investigation for the same. It is the current government who created the mistrust. When your government has a "National Buliding Fund" where they can dish out cash to whomever they wish with no accountability it opens them up for scrutiny. Progress yes, transparency yes.

  12. anonymous says:

    Don't be fooled, them UK boys didn't come down here for nutin!

    We need someone on the insidfe to tell us something. The big secret needs to be a 2011 leak!

  13. The Lone Haranguer says:

    We like to deal with people who are keen for the work. The Chinese want to come here and build infastructure up front for free and then take a percentage of the money we make that we would have made if we did not have the infastructure, so for the (DNNOBSC) do nothing no ideas big spending crowd let me help you, this is what business people would call a good deal, so why do youall not shut up and step out of the way of progress.

    Also for the DNNOBSC China is in the near future going to become the economic engine of the world it would not hurt us to begin establishing realations with them. Can you all get your tiny little brains around that.

    • Anonymous says:

      so you like the idea of working with corrupt people do you?

      • Anonymous says:

        12:50

        We work with corrupt people everday, right here at home in the Cayman Islands.

        Corruption is all over the world. if we were to strop it we would be shutting down many businesses right here in Cayman, maybe yours would be the only one standing.

    • Anonymous says:

      Who is the 'We'?  Doesn't seem so 'Lone'?

      '…..up front for free'? Since when is anything up front for free?

      '……so why don't you all shut up….'?  Who are you to be so rude in telling people that?

      'Can we all get our tiny little brains around that'.  Sure, give us all the details, financials and we may just get our tiny little brains around this.

       

       

  14. Anonymous says:

    Show them your bank account statements Mac, that will shut them up wont it ?

     

     

  15. Anonymous says:

    Its way past time for an investigation intowhether anyone in Cayman has received a bribe.  If they have, they should be dealt with in the same way as other criminals are dealt with. What benefit will it be to Cayman if the Chinese and their workers are running and controlling hte port for the next 49 years?  Oh, sorry, it must be of some benefit to just the chosen few.  It is way past time that people in high positions started acting with integrity and ethics and stop feathering their own nests.  We need people in Govt. who have Cayman's best interests at heart and not their own.  

  16. MER says:

    Leave it to Big Mac to find us a company that is already submerged in scandal, bribary and legal proceedings! They should feel well at home whilst constructing the port here!

    • Anonymous says:

      I can recall we had a few of our own home grown submerged in scandal and bribary and legal proceedings, and alot that haven't got caught yet.

      Which are feeling well at home here, and we still doing business with them.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Oh well I guess we will have another fishing expedition call operation "C.H.E.C".  

  18. Anonymous says:

    I would have expected the Chief Officer in Tourism to have done his job and did due diligence on these companies and even informed the Governor if something didn't seem right.  But alas, I guess it is one more of them positions where there is no accountability attached.

    • Hellooooo says:

      No none in the ministry or even on the Port authority Board was involved in the process, Mac simply gave instructions for CHEC to be appointed

       

    • Anonymous says:

      In a government which respects the rule of law and the appropriate separation of  political decisionsfrom administrative process your assumption would likely be correct. However, what makes you believe that widely available media reports that there was a history of bribery would have removed any company from any short list rather than move them up the list?

      There has also been no evidence that anyone in the civil service knew of this deal before it was announced to the public.

  19. Anonymous says:

    http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110622/news/news4.html

     

    Is this an accident or not? Ahhh the power of the Internet.

    • Anonymous says:

      19 ;59

      Would you also agree that  we should stop doing business with our local  banks, the ones where  their employees were corrupt, in stealing  people's money.

      And should we also stop doing business with the companies that had their employees corruptidly stole funds from their account.

      Give me break and try to stop  putting down the present Government.

  20. Anonymous says:

    In light of this news it is only appropriate and proper in the name of our reputation and our claim to be a "Christian Nation" that we cancel the MOU with China Harbor Company to avoid any appearance of impropriety. By knowing this information and continuing to do business with them, places suspicion on Mr. Bush. No matter how much he denies any bribes taking place, the best way to prove it is to dump China Harbor like a hot potato. Anything less is unacceptable and will indeed look suspicious.

    The only thing worse than a crook is a lying crook. The only thing worse than a lying crook is a lying crooked politician.

    I also think the Governor may want to review this since it is happening on his watch.

     

  21. Boston Tea Party says:

    Presumably if the deal is signed and we subsequently discover that someone took a bribe to facilitate the contract , then the Chinese Co will be in breach of Cayman Law and we can have the contract terminated.

    This will lose them a fortune………

    CHEC are you still keen to forge ahead, or are you now on a very sticky wicket……XXXXX

    • Anonymous says:

      Before you whether there was a failure of due diligence, ask yourself what the selection criteria were.

  22. Anonymous says:

    China Harbour Engineering Co is also working on a $400 million project to renovate roads in Jamaica.

    • Kent A. McTaggart says:

      Of which very few Jamaicans are working on, which is exactly what will happen here!

      CNS: Could you register if you are using a real name, please. The log in box is on hte LHS column and there are also links under the comment box. Thanks!

      • Anonymous says:

        We been doing this for 35 years, we let the Canadians, Scots, English Americans, come in here and take advantage of  the local workers and small companies. you guys never stood up for us, ever, now you want us to join you in kicking out the Chinese, I don't think so!

        If they can come in and build a port for our cruise ships, an Airport, high ways,  let them come.

        We need these things right now, and none of you can put your money where you mouth is.

        While we are here trying everthing in the book to discourage, and brain wash our people, the rest of the world are moving forward with their infastrutures, and we are being left behind, because of political bull shit.

  23. Anonymous says:

    Reflecting on The Chuckster's stance against the corruption in government !

  24. Anonymous says:

    Well this deal won't work then. Our Premier would never even think of working with a company that would be prepared to bribe officials. Damn back to the drawing board for berthing facilities ðŸ™‚

  25. Anonymous says:

    I hope they got BBQ at all these protests that is about tp take place!

  26. Anonymous says:

    It should be obvious that the court in Pakistan is doing this just to makeour Premier look bad.

  27. Anonymous says:

    Really? I dont believe our Premier would make any Mega Deals with them if this were true!

    I heard he was a Good, Upright, Holier Than Thou, God Fearing, Christian, Preacher,  and Believer of Transparency in Govt kind of Ruler. I know that he knows the saying about 'Birds of a Feather Flock Together'!

    So no way he would mix us up in anything like this unless he thinks 'it is good for Cayman!

  28. MMM... says:

    So the China Harbour Company are in the habit of handing out bribes are they???  I wonder who else has benefitted from their handouts?

    • Dred says:

      Desparately raising his hands in the air…..me me….me teacher….I know….me teacher……NOW JUMPING FRANTICALLY!!!! ME….Short chubby dude…ME…..

       

  29. Ray says:

    So is this how C.H.E.C. gets all of their contracts?

  30. South Sounder says:

    Now we know!

  31. Anonymous says:

    Which really makes you wonder – did the Govt. do due diligence on this company prior to the MOU?

  32. Recently Enlightened says:

    Is this really a surprise? My only hope is that if someone here gets caught up in the same activity, that they are caught and prosecuted.

  33. Anonymous says:

    I got a feeling the bottom of the bucket is about to fallout!    Hold fast!

  34. anonymous says:

    Hey BIg Mac,

    Did you read your walking ticket? Read the Headlines above.

    CHINA HARBOR ENGINEER COMPANY   IN BRIBERY SCANDALL!

    Mr.Premier, are these  Chinese expert crooks who you expect us to line their pockets with our tax dollars and tax the poor innocent tourist too?    You gah be kiddin

    Time to go big Mac, its over!

    Take them three losers with you too, I mean the Unemployment expert Rolston Anglin, the Grinning CG and the unaccounted for Capt. Eugene.

     

  35. Anonymous says:

    In a world driven by TECHNOLOGY!   One would think what the government of the Cayman Islands use for their research!  

    • MMM... says:

      Well that's just it isn't it?  The government are WAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY behind on technology… quite shameful for financial centre of our standing.

    • Dred says:

      ………….

      Maybe………..

      Just maybe………….

      Thsi is what their research told them……

       

      Ever thought of that???

  36. cow itch says:

    oooookay… ummm… folks, it looks like we have a chinese rat in the harbor. he has a PHD in engineering and love other rats to take his bribes. also, has experience in snatching cheese from rat traps and not get caught.

  37. Anonymous says:

    Who benefits from doing business with such a company? 

    • Real World says:

      The person taking the bung under the table if he or she doesn't get caught.

    • Anonymous says:

      10:37

      ummm… let me see! the British, the Canadians, the Americans, Chavez, Cuba, The Europeans…East and West, South Americans Africa, Austrila.

      Is this enough countries doing business with China.

      Let me ask you something …where in the hell have you been? don't you watch or read the world news? try turning your TV to the Discovery channel, sometime, and educate yourself, because my friend, you could never hold an intelligent conversation with intelligent people.

  38. Dred says:

    Aheeeem. Aheeeeeeeeeeeem.

    Huuuummmmmm??????

  39. Anonymous says:

    That's just great….

  40. Anonymous says:

    Well Well Now……