Module 3:  Common types of corruption in project procurement

The inter-relationship between the offences

Fraud, bribery, cartels, abuse of power, and abuse of procurement procedures are often inter-related offences.

Where a bribe is paid by a bidder to a procurement manager to obtain an improper competitive advantage, the bribe and corrupt outcome will normally be concealed by fraudulent documentation.

A cartel will normally also involve fraud (as the cartel participants are fraudulently representing to the purchasing organisation that they are bidding in competition).

Most cases of fraud, bribery and cartels during the procurement phase will also be an abuse of power and a breach of procurement procedures. 

The reverse is not always the case.  A breach of procurement procedures may be innocent or negligent, and not be corrupt.  However, a corrupt breach of procurement procedures will normally also involve bribery, fraud or a cartel.

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April 2025
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