Amazon is investigating a whistleblower complaint alleging that the money paid by the company in legal fees has been funnelled into bribes by its legal representatives in India, The Morning Context reported on September 20. Although Amazon did not comment on the specific allegations or the status of the investigation, a company spokesperson told MediaNama: "We have zero tolerance for corruption. We take allegations of improper actions seriously, investigate them fully, and take appropriate action." What is the whistleblower complaint about? According to The Morning Context, the whistleblower’s complaint revolves around Vikas Chopra, an independent advocate who works with Amazon, who is alleged to have used legal fees paid to him to bribe government officials. Chopra has represented Amazon on legal matters for around three years and has worked with Rahul Sundaram, an Amazon in-house senior counsel who is also reportedly under investigation by the company and has been sent on leave, the report stated. Amazon is also asking questions of its other legal representatives in the country including AZB & Partners, the report added. If the allegations of bribery are true, it would pose a significant problem for Amazon because such practices go against the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which is a US law that prohibits companies from paying bribes to foreign government officials to assist in running a business, the report stated. CAIT calls for CBI investigation into the issue The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has written to the commerce ministry asking it to take "immediate cognisance…
