High profile Corruption Scandals
Here are some of the most high-profile corruption scandals since 1900, each with a brief synopsis:
Teapot Dome Scandal (1920s) – USA
This scandal involved the secret leasing of federal oil reserves at Teapot Dome, Wyoming, to private oil companies by Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall. Fall received bribes from the oil companies in exchange for the leases. It was a major political scandal that led to Fall’s conviction and imprisonment, marking the first time a U.S. Cabinet official was jailed for crimes committed while in office.
Watergate Scandal (1970s) – USA
This political scandal stemmed from a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex and the subsequent cover-up by the Nixon administration. The scandal led to the discovery of abuses of power by members of the Nixon administration, the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974, and the conviction of several administration officials.
Bofors Scandal (1980s) – India
This scandal involved allegations that Swedish arms manufacturer Bofors AB paid bribes to Indian politicians and defence officials to secure a $1.4 billion contract for the supply of Howitzer guns. The scandal implicated several high-profile individuals, including then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and led to widespread public outrage and political fallout.
Watch this video for more information:
Imelda Marcos and the Marcos Family (1980s) – Philippines
Imelda Marcos, wife of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, was involved in a massive corruption scandal that saw the Marcos family embezzle billions of dollars from the country’s treasury. The ill-gotten wealth was used to fund a lavish lifestyle and hidden in overseas bank accounts. The scandal came to light after the Marcos regime was overthrown in 1986.
Tangentopoli (1990s) – Italy
Known as “Bribesville,” this massive investigation uncovered widespread corruption among Italian politicians and business leaders. The Mani Pulite (Clean Hands) investigation revealed that many political parties were involved in systematic bribery and illegal financing. The scandal led to the indictment and downfall of numerous politicians and fundamentally changed the Italian political landscape.
Enron Scandal (2001) – USA
Enron Corporation, once one of the largest energy companies in the world, was found to have engaged in widespread accounting fraud to hide its financial losses and inflate its profits. The scandal led to the company’s bankruptcy, the dissolution of Arthur Andersen (one of the largest audit firms), and the conviction of several Enron executives.
Siemens Bribery Scandal (2008) – Germany
Siemens AG, a major German conglomerate, was found to have engaged in systematic bribery to win contracts worldwide. The company paid over $1.6 billion in fines to U.S. and European authorities, marking one of the largest corporate corruption cases in history.
Sarkozigate (2010) – France
This scandal involved former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was accused of accepting illegal campaign donations from L’Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt and Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Sarkozy faced several investigations and trials, resulting in his conviction for corruption and influence peddling in 2021.
Bo Xilai Scandal (2012) – China
Bo Xilai, a prominent Chinese politician, was implicated in a massive corruption scandal involving bribery, embezzlement, and abuse of power. The scandal included the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood by Bo’s wife, Gu Kailai. Bo was eventually removed from his positions and sentenced to life in prison.
TeliaSonera Corruption Scandal (2012) – Sweden/Uzbekistan
Swedish telecom company TeliaSonera was accused of paying bribes to secure business deals in Uzbekistan. The company paid millions to Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of the Uzbek president, to gain access to the country’s telecommunications market. The scandal led to significant fines and the resignation of top executives.
Petrobras Scandal (Operation Car Wash) (2014) – Brazil
This extensive corruption scandal involved Brazil’s state-controlled oil company, Petrobras. Executives at Petrobras accepted bribes from construction companies in exchange for awarding them contracts at inflated prices. The scandal implicated numerous politicians and business leaders, leading to widespread political fallout and the imprisonment of many high-profile individuals.
1MDB Scandal (2015) – Malaysia
The 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal involved the embezzlement of billions of dollars from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. Former Prime Minister Najib Razak and other officials were implicated in the misappropriation of funds for personal and political purposes. The scandal had significant political and financial repercussions in Malaysia and globally.
FIFA Corruption Scandal (2015) – Global
High-ranking officials of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) were indicted by U.S. authorities for racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering. The investigation revealed widespread corruption involving bribery for the awarding of hosting rights for major tournaments, marketing, and broadcasting deals. Several FIFA officials were arrested and convicted.
Odebrecht Scandal (2016) – Latin America
Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht was found to have paid approximately $788 million in bribes to politicians and officials in multiple countries across Latin America to secure contracts. The investigation, part of Operation Car Wash, led to numerous arrests and convictions of politicians and executives across the region.
Panama Papers (2016) – Global
The Panama Papers were a leak of 11.5 million documents from the law firm Mossack Fonseca, revealing how wealthy individuals and public officials used offshore entities to evade taxes and hide assets. The revelations implicated politicians, celebrities, and business leaders worldwide, leading to investigations, resignations, and policy changes in many countries.
Fishrot Scandal (2019) – Namibia
This scandal involved high-ranking officials in Namibia who were accused of accepting bribes in exchange for allocating lucrative fishing quotas to Icelandic companies. Leaked documents and media investigations revealed the extent of the corruption, leading to the arrest and indictment of several officials, including former Fisheries Minister Bernhard Esau and Justice Minister Sacky Shanghala.
Zondo Commission (2018 – 2022) – South Africa
Also known as the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, this investigation examined extensive corruption involving the former President Jacob Zuma. The commission uncovered how various companies influenced government contracts to benefit their businesses. The inquiry’s findings have led to calls for reforms and legal actions against those involved.