Three World Bank staff and two Swedish companies are being investigated for corrupt activities in connection with funds administered by the bank.

The internal World Bank investigation was prompted by suspicions from the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), which then called the World Bank's hotline, for reporting fraud. The Bank's Corruption and Fraud Investigations Unit as well as the Office for Business Ethics and Integrity have been investigating the case. The payments from the Swedish government to the fund for consulting work in Eastern Europe were stopped two weeks ago, according to Sida.