On March 9, 2026, the World Bank Group’s Sanctions Board debarred Turkish engineering company Aktif Elektroteknik San ve Tic A.S. for a minimum of a year and three months after finding that the company engaged in corrupt and fraudulent practices involving undisclosed payments to public officials in furtherance of obtaining work under a World Bank-financed contract. After the minimum term of debarment, the debarment may be lifted if Aktif “demonstrates compliance” with the World Bank’s requirement that Aktif adopt and implement a comprehensive integrity compliance program that aligns with the World Bank’s Sanctions Procedures.
As stated in the World Bank Sanctions Board’s decision, Aktif was the lead member of a joint venture that bid on a contract to provide services for the Iraq Emergency Operation for Development Project, which aimed to support the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and restore public services in “select municipal areas” in Iraq. During the bidding process, which occurred in 2016, Aktif and Aktif’s joint venture partner allegedly exchanged emails referring to payments made to Iraq Ministry of Electricity officials. Two days after the email exchange, the Ministry of Electricity recommended that the joint venture be awarded the contract.
The Sanctions Board concluded that Aktif engaged in a corrupt practice when it made payments to Ministry of Electricity officials in exchange for assistance in winning the bid. The Sanctions Board also found that Aktif engaged in a fraudulent practice when it failed to disclose the improper payments. The Sanctions Board concluded that the Aktif CEO participated in the corrupt practice, an aggravating factor in determining the appropriate period of debarment. The Sanctions Board also determined that at least seven years had passed since the misconduct had occurred and five years since Aktif was audited by the World Bank—circumstances that warranted “significant mitigation.” In calculating the period of debarment, the Sanctions Board additionally granted “limited mitigation” for (1) Aktif’s “limited” cooperation with World Bank investigators and (2) its “voluntary restraint” from bidding on other World Bank projects.
Issuance of Sanctions Board Decision No. 146 | Sanctions Board Decision