A Back Door or Bribery?

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JP Morgan’s “Sons and Daughters” hiring program is under scrutiny by federal regulators. Confidential documents obtained from the company are being explored to shed light on whether the program indicates wrongdoing by the bank to hire children of China’s ruling elite, in order to secure existing and future business from Chinese-government-run companies.

Questions:
1. Based on the information in the article, do you think the program crosses a legal line? Discuss.
2. Explain what contract is now at the center of the federal bribery investigation into JP Morgan’s hiring program.
3. Are there any linkages mentioned in the article that would support intent to commit fraud?

Source:SEC
Protess, B. and J. Silver-Greenberg. (2013) JPMorgan Tracked Business Linked to China Hiring. The New York Times, Dec. 7 (Retrievable online at http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/12/07/bank-tabulated-business-linked-to-china-hiring/?hpw&rref=business&_r=0)