Colombia: Confessions come in paper cartel cases

Colombia’s Superintendent for Industry and Commerce, Pablo Felipe Robledo, announced last week that his agency will be releasing a report on the current state of the investigation into a wide-ranging cartel involving the tissue paper, disposable diaper and notebook markets. In all three cases the SIC has received the cooperation of companies and officials who have confessed to their part in these anticompetitive activities. The SIC will determine appropriate measures within its current term.

The investigation into cartel behavior focuses on the companies Kimberly-Clarke, Carvajal and Scribe. Two of these companies have come forward under the country’s leniency program, confessing to their taking part in price manipulations. The investigation is also targeting 27 high profile individuals. In the related toilet paper and tissue cartel three other companies have come forward to cooperate and confess their part in the banned behaviors.

A proposed reform circulating Colombia’s legislature since 2015 is intended to give greater powers for investigation and correction to the SIC, in order to better combat economic cartels. The project would introduce a system for the agency to impose fines of up to 30% of the offending company’s annual sale volume, and is expected to receive widespread support.

Full Content: El Colombiano

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