Whistleblower details bribes, fraud in Afghanistan

[unhappycamper]

Whistleblower details bribes, fraud in Afghanistan
By Warren P. Strobel | McClatchy Newspapers
Posted on Sunday, November 21, 2010

KABUL, Afghanistan — A corporate whistleblower, whose evidence of fraud led to one of the largest fines ever against a war-zone contractor, said that he was ordered to facilitate bribes, keep information from government auditors and inflate overhead rates.

Former Louis Berger Group employee Harold Salomon, in his first interview since the case was settled earlier this month, said he came to believe the New Jersey firm hired him because executives calculated the Haitian immigrant would not uncover their defrauding of U.S. taxpayers.

"Me being an immigrant would be easy prey," he said. They thought, "I would not understand anything."

Louis Berger agreed Nov. 5 to pay $69.3 million in civil and criminal penalties and accept a "deferred prosecution," which means federal charges would be dropped only if the firm complies with its court agreement with the government. The deal, however, allows the firm to continue competing for U.S. government contracts.

Louis Berger is among the U.S. Agency for International Development's largest contractors in Afghanistan.

[BlueJac]

1. Quiet..........

under the rug this must go! The wolves are in the hen house, surprise surprise!

[WhiteTara]

2. they get to keep getting contracts

under the agreement! Well, I guess they have to have revenue to pay for the paltry fine!

[Gravel Democrat]

3. puntapié y recomendamos

Cost of War in Afghanistan
since 2001
$367,718,876,847
http://costofwar.com

now over $1,000 per second