Efforts To Restart Libyan Projects Land SNC-Lavalin in Controversy

According to Quinton’s comments in a story on The New York Times website, SNC-Lavalin paid Vanier more than $100,000 to visit Libya to gain information about how to resume operations and assess safety and security.

No Charges by Mexican Government

Neither Ben Aissa, Roy nor SNC-Lavalin have been accused of any crimes or wrongdoing by the Mexican government.

Attempts to reach Ben Aissa and Roy so far have proven unsuccessful. Published remarks attributed to Ben Aissa indicate that he denies not only being dismissed but also any ethical violation.

In the statement replying to SNC-Lavalin, Ben Aissa’s attorney said his client had been responsible for the company’s engineering and construction of infrastructure projects, which employed more than 10,000 staff members.

Ben Aissa spared no effort to "protect the interests of the company," and he continuously served the interests of SNC-Lavalin "in compliance with company's policies."

"After nearly 27 years with SNC-Lavalin," the statement continued, "Ben Aissa laments the manner in which the company decided to announce the end of their professional relationship."

Also, SNC-Lavalin said it has named Charles Chebl as executive vice president of its infrastructure and construction business unit. Chebl has been with the firm for more than 25 years, it adds.

Deputy Editor Richard Korman helps run ENR's business and legal news and investigations, selects ENR's commentary and oversees editorial content on ENR.com. In 2023 the American Society of Business Publication Editors awarded Richard the Stephen Barr Award, the highest honor for a single feature story or investigation, for his story on the aftermath of a terrible auto crash in Kentucky in 2019, and in 2015 the American Business Media awarded him the Timothy White Award for investigations of surety fraud and workplace bullying. A member of Investigative Reporters and Editors, Richard has been a fellow on drone safety with the McGraw Center for Business Journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Richard's freelance writing has appeared in the Seattle Times, the New York Times, Business Week and the websites of The Atlantic and Salon.com. He admires construction projects that finish on time and budget, compensate all team members fairly and record zero fatalities or serious injuries.

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