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FBI arrests 22 in bribery probe

28 Jan 2010

Source: SupplyManagement.com, 22 January 2010

The US Department of Justice has accused 22 arms supply personnel of bribery following a sting operation.

The executives and employees, including three Britons, were arrested this week after allegedly engaging in schemes to bribe government officials in an unspecified African country to win or retain arms contracts.

The arrests follow the largest single investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in connection with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

The accused suppliers allegedly agreed to pay a 20 per cent commission to undercover FBI agents posing as African government officials, in return for part of a US$15 million arms deal. The defendants were also accused of agreeing to participate in a “test deal”, to prove that the defence minister overseeing the contracts would personally receive a 10 per cent commission.

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