Trafigura: when the fine is not enough

The Bellinzona verdict marked a first.

Trafigura, a global trading giant, was fined for corruption in Angola. However, the CHF 3 million fine pales in comparison to the $143.7 million in profits deemed unjustified. While the judges ordered a provision of $145 million, this appears more like a precautionary measure than genuine reparation.

This case illustrates a disturbing reality: as long as financial penalties remain proportionally low, corruption remains an economic calculation, not a deterrent crime.

It is time for legislation to adapt sentencing scales to the amounts actually embezzled, to transform justice into a regulatory tool, not a simple budget line.