PHUKET: A fourth man's plea of guilty in the multi-million dollar Glenn Marine scandal that embroils Phuket has opened up new aspects of a kickbacks scam executed on the US Navy.
Edmond A. Aruffo, who retired as a lieutenant commander in 2007 after serving 20 years in the US Navy, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the US government as part of a deal with federal prosecutors in San Diego.
It's alleged that the president of Glenn Defense Marine Asia, Leonard Glenn Francis - a large and wealthy man known in Navy circles as ''Fat Leonard'' - led frauds that involved fake bills for supplies at Phuket and other regional ports.
Details of the part played by people on Phuket in the alleged fraud have yet to be revealed but are expected to emerge as the case proceeds.
After leaving the Navy, Aruffo worked for three years as an executive with Glenn Defense, the Washington Post reported.
According to a copy of the plea agreement, Aruffo arranged an elaborate kickback scheme in Japan that defrauded the US Navy of between $1 million and $2.5 million between July 2009 and September 2010.
The kickback scheme in Japan is a new angle in the bribery scandal.
Prosecutors have previously charged Francis and others in his company with overbilling the Navy for more than $20 million in the scams.
Francis was a familiar face for decades among Navy admirals and commanders serving in the Pacific, according to the Washington Post..
Prosecutors have accused him and his employees of doling out cash, luxury travel and prostitutes to Navy officials in exchange for inside information that he used to win contracts and bilk the government.
Edmond A. Aruffo, who retired as a lieutenant commander in 2007 after serving 20 years in the US Navy, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the US government as part of a deal with federal prosecutors in San Diego.
It's alleged that the president of Glenn Defense Marine Asia, Leonard Glenn Francis - a large and wealthy man known in Navy circles as ''Fat Leonard'' - led frauds that involved fake bills for supplies at Phuket and other regional ports.
Details of the part played by people on Phuket in the alleged fraud have yet to be revealed but are expected to emerge as the case proceeds.
After leaving the Navy, Aruffo worked for three years as an executive with Glenn Defense, the Washington Post reported.
According to a copy of the plea agreement, Aruffo arranged an elaborate kickback scheme in Japan that defrauded the US Navy of between $1 million and $2.5 million between July 2009 and September 2010.
The kickback scheme in Japan is a new angle in the bribery scandal.
Prosecutors have previously charged Francis and others in his company with overbilling the Navy for more than $20 million in the scams.
Francis was a familiar face for decades among Navy admirals and commanders serving in the Pacific, according to the Washington Post..
Prosecutors have accused him and his employees of doling out cash, luxury travel and prostitutes to Navy officials in exchange for inside information that he used to win contracts and bilk the government.
I don't condone corruption at all, but when you analise 1-2.5m USD, it seems quite petty compared to the amount governments spend on killing people, making huge bank mistakes, etc etc.
Justice is Justice, it just seems petty compared to the huge crimes that are committed daily.
Posted by Tbs on July 5, 2014 07:40