Hedge fund Och-Ziff agrees settlement in African bribery case
US hedge fund Och-Ziff agreed to fork over $412m (£317.5m) late last week to settle a case that it bribed top officials in a variety of African countries.
The US authorities, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, contested that Och-Ziff's internal controls were not adequate to detect and prevent a bribery scheme being carried out and concealed by former employees.
"We have learned from this experience and taken significant steps to strengthen Och-Ziff," said Daniel Och, chairman and chief executive of Och-Ziff. "We are pleased to bring this matter to a conclusion and remain focused on generating returns in our funds."
William Sweeney of the FBI's New York field office commented: "Gaining the upper hand in a business venture by engaging in corrupt practices is bribery in its purest form. Doing so with the intention of influencing a foreign official in his or her capacity is nothing short of corruption."