The German development bank KfW, which is the main creditor of tens of millions of euros worth of works on the improvement of water supply and sewerage infrastructure in the municipalities of the Montenegrin coast, did not want to give "Vijesta" more details about the information it received about the alleged corrupt activities of the Montenegrin state company "Vodacom". through which those projects are implemented, in their realization.
“We do not answer questions about ongoing cases. The same applies to all inquiries, whether they come from external addresses, applicants or other project participants", was told to "Vijesta" yesterday at the KfW headquarters in Frankfurt.
We asked the German bank to announce what concrete information they have regarding the alleged corrupt actions in the construction of water supply and sewerage infrastructure on the Montenegrin coast through "Vodacom", and to announce whether KfW has already contacted the police and prosecutorial authorities in Montenegro on this occasion. .
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"Vijesti" announced on Friday that KfW Bank requested an official statement from the joint service and coordination company for water supply and waste water removal for the Montenegrin coast "Vodacom" DOO from Tivat regarding, as they stated, the information they received about alleged corrupt behavior "Vodacoma" in the implementation of projects in the municipalities of Ulcinj and Tivat, worth almost 50 million euros.
"KfW Bank has received information about allegations of corrupt behavior on projects implemented by 'Vodacom' in the municipalities of Ulcinj and Tivat, for which it expresses great concern. We have received indications that there are irregularities and criminal acts such as influencing tenders and accepting financial resources in order to represent the interests of certain construction companies in the procurement process in connection with the mentioned project," the letter reads. Karina Benig from the Compliance Department of KfW on September 20 sent to the executive director of "Vodacom" Dragan Roganović and the Ministry of Finance in the Government of Montenegro.
"Vijesti" has access to that letter, i.e. KfW Bank's request for "Vodacom" to respond to these allegations by October 4 at the latest. German bankers told "Vodacom" and the Ministry of Finance that "KfW takes allegations of illegal and improper behavior very seriously and implements a zero-tolerance policy regarding sanctioned practices, directly or indirectly related to partners, financed projects or agents involved in KfW bank projects ".
"As a result, KfW Bank's expectation and best practice is to thoroughly and comprehensively investigate and investigate all allegations", they say in the letter, noting that their policy of "zero tolerance" is also reflected in the compliance agreements that KfW Bank has signed with "Vodacom ", and which gives the Germans the opportunity to send this Montenegrin state company a request for a statement on information that "Vodacom" allegedly carries out corrupt practices for the benefit of certain contractors on jobs that are carried out by that company on behalf of the state, the German creditor and coastal municipalities.
"In light of the ongoing cooperation between KfW and 'Vodacom' and in order to enable an appropriate assessment of any implications of the mentioned allegations for such cooperation in accordance with the internal rules and regulations of KfW Bank, it is relevant and necessary that KfW Bank receive additional clarification regarding the mentioned allegations ", concludes the request for a statement that the Germans addressed to the management of "Vodacom" and forwarded to the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro.
When asked to comment on KfW's request for a statement on information about alleged corrupt actions in the conduct of "Vodacom", the state company told "Vijesta" that they, like the German bank, implement a policy of "zero tolerance for any corrupt actions". .
"Vodacom doo Tivat has the same policy, zero tolerance for corrupt activities. Given that we have received a notification from KfW Bank that they have received information about allegations of corrupt behavior in the projects implemented by 'Vodacom', we expect KfW Bank to specify the received information and indications it possesses, in terms of specific actions and persons, in order to to prevent further possible corrupt activities, took appropriate legal measures", announced the management of "Vodacom".
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