World Bank

Corruption cases involving World Bank projects appear to have peaked since systematic investigations began in 1999, according to its first annual report on the subject. New cases were highest in the 2002 financial year (550) and in 2001 (545); they fell to 339 in 2003 and 354 in 2004. Looking back, the Bank said that since 1999 it had taken action against more than 300 firms and individuals for fraud and corruption.