We see corruption generally as a third world problem and a problem which is primarily at the governmental level. But far too frequently, we ignore the role played by the major corporations of the world in starting, propagating and yes sheltering the corrupt guilty. Over the past few months, I have continuously read a series of stories relating to white-collar crime and still do not think that we are taking this seriously enough. And we are not talking about small fly by night operators, we are talking about giants of the corporate world such as Samsung of South Korea, Boeing of USA, Siemens of Germany and British Aerospace of United Kingdom. These companies span all aspects of our lives and most importantly, via their products and services also look after our health, national security and economies. Who are we talking about, what has been done and what can be done more to combat this scourge?

The hills are alive with the sound of corruption. Closer to home, we had an entire construction industry in the UK which has now been hauled over the coals. 112 firms have been accused to colluding to fix prices and thereby forcing all of us to pay more for our hospitals, schools and homes. Take a look at the names of the companies here (http://www.oft.gov.uk/news/press/2008/52-08). It is unbelievable, the great and good to the small and tiny of the British construction industry stand indicted of fraud and corruption. You might remember me fulminating about British Aerospace before either on these pages or on my blogs.

But do not take my word for it, here are two reputed outlets which have reported on this indecent affair. The first is from the BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/6718831.stm), and the second is from the Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/bae). And to think the government is still in power, the management have not been arrested, nothing has been done at all. Remember what happened when the Indian government of Rajiv Gandhi was accused of taking kickbacks from Bofors? It was voted out of power and still criminal cases are rumbling on against several accused. But not in the United Kingdom, where corruption cases after corruption cases against BAE are raised and quietly shelved. The fact that this is playing havoc with British national security, and leading directly to the UK becoming a terrorist target is completely forgotten by the grand poo bah's. The UK supports these corrupt Saudi princes and their Saudi rebels land here or other Jihadi's use that as an excuse to blow up innocent Londoners.

Nip over the pond to the USA and you will find that their national security is also compromised terribly but they were better at stamping it out. Boeing, the aeroplane company, was found guilty of trying to influence a very large contract with the military and the senior management were fired. Now that's white-collar crime at its worst, playing with the lives of its armed forces. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has currently 2,500 cases of public corruption (50% more than 5 years ago) and 80% uptick on the corporate corruption cases.

Nip back to this side of the pond and you will see Siemens, the German conglomerate, enmeshed in a whole host of corruption scandals. One estimate says that € 420 million in payments is suspicious. Can you imagine? Thatâ€(tm)s gobsmacking. And this firm supplied products and services to the Communications & Media, Construction, Energy, Healthcare, Public Services, Retail and Transport sectors. Where all have wrong decisions have been taken because of the bribery? How many people have needlessly died because the wrong or sub-standard equipment was chosen?

Samsung, another giant global conglomerate was in the news recently. The Group chairman Lee Kun-Hee resigned after a series of investigations into tax avoidance and other corrupt practices.

-All this to be taken with a grain of salt!