THE World Bank has placed the Finnish consulting and engineering firm Pöyry on its blacklist of non-responsible vendors. Late in June, the World Bank accused the Finnish consulting powerhouse of “submitting false invoices and providing improper benefits to World Bank Group staff.”

The organisation says that Pöyry Management Consulting is ineligible to bid or receive contracts for three years. Pöyry has denied the allegations.

Taloussanomat contacted the World Bank and report that the incident occurred in 2009 in the East Asia/Pacific region. They say a World Bank worker, who is no longer with the organisation, was presented with a single gift. The “false invoices” have not been explained.