These charges follow a long-running international investigation into the activities of SNC-Lavalin and certain of its former employees in Libya, Canada, Bangladesh and elsewhere as well as foreign and domestic corruption charges in prior years against certain former executives of SNC-Lavalin. According to the RCMP's press release, the latest round of corruption charges (the first against SNC-Lavalin itself) relate to alleged illegal activities over a 10 year period from August 16, 2001 to September 20, 2011, respecting $47.6 million in alleged bribes to foreign public officials and an alleged fraud of $130 million in relation to projects in Libya. In addition to the potential financial penalties and reputational damage to SNC-Lavalin, these charges pose a serious risk that SNC-Lavalin will face debarment in Canada and abroad.