Translator pleads guilty to bribe offer (buying armored vests in Iraq)

[Barrett808]

Translator pleads guilty to bribe offer
By MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - A Michigan man who worked as a translator in Iraq pleaded guilty Friday to offering a bribe to a police official to arrange the purchase of armored vests and other equipment for $1 million.

Faheem Mousa Salam, 27, faces up to five years in prison and a $100,000 fine for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He entered his plea in U.S. District Court in Washington.

Salam, of Livonia, Mich., acknowledged that he offered $60,000 to an Iraqi police official who Salam believed could help arrange the purchase of the goods by a police training organization, the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team, prosecutors said. Salam said he had 1,000 vests and a sophisticated map printer to sell.

He tried to make final arrangements for the sale with someone he believed was an official of the training group, but actually was an undercover agent of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. Salam offered the agent a separate payment of $28,000 to $35,000 for his help.

Salam was arrested in March. He was an employee of the Titan Corp., a government contractor working in Iraq.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060804/ap_on_go_ot/iraq_contract_bribes

[TexasLawyer]

1. I wonder if this guy's employer was involved?

What a mess.

Salam was arrested in March. He was an employee of the Titan Corp., a government contractor working in Iraq.

The inspector general, Stuart W. Bowen Jr., said in a report this week that corruption is "a virtual pandemic in Iraq," threatening rebuilding efforts, international aid and citizen confidence needed for a fledgling democracy.

[anotherdrew]

3. no, I'm sure it was his own million dollars. :sarcasm

OMG I think I'm having a sarcasm!

[TexasLawyer]

4. No, this dude was going to GET a million $

The bribe was for $60,000 which he might have been intending to pay as a kick-back after he had the money from the transaction.

His take from this scheme would have been $1 million minus whatever he paid for the vests (assuming these were actually to be delivered) minus whatever he paid in bribes.

A single person could definitely pull this off, and his employer may or may not have been involved.

I somehow think that if the employer was involved, the employer would have paid off some higher up officials to make sure people kept their mouths shut. And thinking as the employer, if I had a wannabe like Salam in my organization trying to go out on his own, I would make sure he got caught and made an example of.

People say I have a criminal mind. I don't know what they're talking about!:sarcasm:

[anotherdrew]

2. this is an outrage, every bush PIG in iraq has bribed !

this poor bastard has an arabic sounding name tho, so of cour this poor bastard get's to be made an example of.