Uber is cooperating with DOJ investigation of alleged bribes paid in several Asian countries

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September 20, 2017 10:36 AM

Uber employees allegedly paid Indonesian police so they could keep operating after a dispute over an office location.

Uber has given US investigators details of payments the firm made to authorities in Asia, as the US Department of Justice (DOJ) looks into whether Uber violated anti-bribery laws.

Bloomberg and Reuters both reported that the American ride-hailing company has been looking into multiple payments in Indonesia, Malaysia, and elsewhere.

The DOJ's investigation into potential foreign bribes at Uber first became public knowledge in August — the latest in a lengthy line of scandals and legal headaches for the beleaguered transportation firm.

According to Bloomberg, Uber has been investigating "suspicious activity" in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Korea with the aid of law firm O'Melveny & Myers. The DOJ is looking into potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which forbids US companies from paying bribes to foreign officials.

Uber staff allegedly made payments to police officers in Asia to keep operating following a dispute over the location of its offices, according to both reports. Uber has passed details of these payments to the DOJ, and fired one employee responsible, the reports say. The head of Uber's Indonesian operations, , Reuters and Bloomberg both reported.

In another incident reported by Bloomberg, Uber allegedly donated tens of thousands of dollars to a Malaysian entrepreneur hub, the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre, a year before the Malaysian government passed new ride-hailing laws that were beneficial to Uber. (The Malaysian organisation denies "involvement in any quid-pro-quo arrangements.")

Uber did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

The company is still reeling from a chain of scandalsa former employee accusing the company of sexism and discrimination

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