Amazon to probe corruption claims against its lawyers in India

Amazon has emphasised it has zero tolerance for graft and will investigate all allegations of corruption fully, responding to a report by an Indian news outlet that the US e-commerce giant has begun an internal investigation into claims of bribery.

The US company started a probe into its legal representatives’ conduct in India, the Morning Context, a two-year-old media site that typically covers local affairs, reported on Monday, citing three people familiar with the matter.

Amazon did not address specifics in the report but issued the statement after Bloomberg contacted its spokespeople.

“We have zero tolerance for corruption,” Amazon said in its emailed response. “We take allegations of improper actions seriously, investigate them fully, and take appropriate action. We are not commenting on specific allegations or the status of any investigation at this time.”

A whistle-blower within Amazon flagged the alleged bribery issues in its Indian operations, prompting the company to start its probe, the Morning Context said.

Amazon is investigating accusations that legal fees paid by the company had been used as bribes, the news outlet reported. The company had placed a senior employee on leave, the Morning Context said, citing two individuals who worked with Amazon’s inhouse legal team.