Short Case 1
Pengungkapan fraud dalam kasus ini yaitu:
Manajemen dan direktur perusahaan
The senior officers merupakan sahabat. Mereka memiliki banyak kekuasaan dalam perusahaan baru,
yang mengijinkan mereka untuk berkolusi jika diperlukan. Posisi mereka dalam perusahaan mengijinkan
mereka untuk mempengaruhi keputusan dan melanggar pengendalian internal. Mereka memiliki
persentase saham yang besar, sehingga mereka memiliki motivasi pribadi agar harga saham menjadi
setinggi mungkin. Mereka terdiri dari persentase yang besar atas dewan direksi, sehingga mereka adalah
insider.
Hubungan perusahaan dengan pihak lain
Fakta bahwa presiden bank local ditunjuk menjadi dewan direksi tidak hanya menunjukkan kejanggalan
dalam dewan (karena dia telah meminjamkan uang pada perusahaan), tetapi juga menunjukkan perhatian
tentang seberapa valid transaksi antara perusahaan dan bank. Apakah bank memberikan perusahaan
kelonggaran jangka waktu pinjaman atau tingkat bunga yang tidak masuk akal? Seseorang mungkin
peduli pada hubungan perusahaan dengan pegawai pemerintah kota, yang merasa termotivasi kuat untuk
tetap membiarkan perusahaan ini di kota karena perusahaan mendorong ekonomi kota dan menyediakan
pekerjaaan.
Short Case 2
1. Would a good system of internal controls have prevented these fraudulent backdating practices?
In determining whether or not a good system of internal controls would have prevented fraudulent
backdating practices, it is important to understand who the perpetrators were. Internal controls are most
effective in preventing or detecting employees who commit fraud when acting alone. When collusion
(two or more people are involved), internal controls are less effective. When top management and the
directors are involved, as was the case with option backdating, they can often “override” internal
controls. Internal control activities (procedures) such as segregation of duties, proper authorizations, and
so forth, wouldn’t be nearly as effective in preventing this type of fraud as would a good control
environment (tone at the top.) While a few of these firms’ backdating practices were caught by auditors
or outsiders, most backdating revelations have come from companies themselves after thoroughly
examining all options granted in the past.
2. Why would executives and directors of so many companies have allowed this dishonest practice in their
companies?
The question of why executives and directors would have allowed this fraudulent practice is a tough
one. Hopefully, in most cases, the option backdating was known by only a few people. Those
individuals probably engaged in the practice because of the elements of the fraud triangle: (1) they felt a
pressure to increase their compensation—greed, (2) they perceived an opportunity to backdate without
getting caught—no one had been paying attention to option dating in the past, and (3) they rationalized
that it was okay—everyone else was doing it. With respect to the rationalization, they were correct.
While everyone wasn’t doing it, lots of companies were. The fact that many others are acting illegal
doesn’t make it right.
3. Would a whistle-blower system have helped to prevent or reveal these dishonest practices?
A whistle-blower system allows individuals to call in anonymously to report suspected violations. A
whistle-blower system would probably be the most effective way to catch this kind of fraud because
individuals who saw the dishonest acts could report violations by company executives without fear of
reprisal because no one knows who the anonymous caller is. Whistle-blower systems are most important
where internal controls can be overridden. The fact that a whistle-blower system is in place helps
prevent or deters dishonest acts. Providing a way for everyone who could see fraud to easily report that
fraud significantly increases the likelihood that dishonest acts will be reported.
Short Case 4
Tidak seperti embezzlement dan misappropriation, fraud laporan keuangan biasanya dilakukan oleh individu
di posisi tertinggi dalam organisasi, dan sering atas nama organisasi dihadapkan untuk melawan organisasi.
Contohnya: anggota manajemen puncak yang memanipulasi laporan keuangan supaya menaikkan
pendapatan dan menaikkan harga saham. Di sisi yang lain, embezzlement dan misappropriation terjadi saat
karyawan mencuri dari organisasi dimana mereka bekerja. Contohnya: manajemen menengah, karyawan.