interesting article

per http://www.smh.com.au/business/oz-denies-cambodia-blunder-20110531-1femo.html

OZ denies Cambodia blunder
OZ MINERALS and the Cambodian government have been forced to deny allegations of impropriety over reports that a transaction by Oz Minerals in 2009 led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid to the relatives of government officials.

The news comes as the US Securities and Exchange Commission continues investigations into Cambodian bribery allegations involving BHP Billiton.

BHP has yet to confirm - or deny - that the investigations relate to a $US1 million payment by the company to the Cambodian government in 2006 to secure bauxite leases.

According to yesterday's The Cambodia Daily, Oz Minerals bought out its partner in a Cambodian gold mine in 2009, Shin Ha.

More than $A1 million of the proceeds went to three women on the partner's board who were reportedly closely related to officials from government departments including the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy (MIME).

According to the newspaper's investigative reporter, Douglas Gillison, the trio were appointed in 2006, just before Shin Ha concluding a joint venture agreement with the Owen Hegarty-lead Oxiana.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/oz-denies-cambodia-blunder-20110531-1femo.html#ixzz1NyvCx12m