Race to make bid-rigging criminal offence by April
Officials said on Friday they aim to criminalise bid-rigging by April as well as enhance enforcement through the establishment of an inter-departmental task force. Competition Commission chief executive Rasul Butt said the watchdog would be consulting lawmakers over the proposed amendments “very soon” before seeking opinions from stakeholders. “The government and, of course, the relevant…
Officials announced on Friday their goal to make bid-rigging a criminal offence by April and to bolster enforcement through the creation of an inter-departmental task force. Rasul Butt, the Competition Commission chief executive, revealed that the watchdog would consult lawmakers and stakeholders on the proposed changes shortly.
Butt emphasized the importance of engaging with relevant authorities, including the government and the Competition Commission, in the legislative process. The task force, led by Secretary for Security Chris Tang, will consist of representatives from the Commission, the police force, and the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Tang highlighted the potential efficiency of the task force, which would enable the sharing of intelligence and databases, leading to more precise joint operations and proactive measures in tackling bid-rigging. Despite not disclosing the exact number of members, Tang clarified that establishing the task force would not necessitate additional resources.
The task force will conduct operations at high-risk building owners' meetings to identify potential bid-rigging activities, relying on intelligence, undercover operations, and informants to curb malpractices.
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