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US Firm Paid Bribes for Iraq Contracts: Army

21 others barred from government work in ongoing scandal probe

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 31, 2007 4:51 AM CDT

(Newser) – An American company paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to secure some $12 million in contracts in Iraq and Kuwait, despite poor performance on earlier work, according to court documents obtained by the New York Times. Lee Dynamics International was suspended from seeking government work after an Army officer admitted to taking $225,000 in bribes before killing herself last year.

The scandal became public when Lee Dynamics contested the suspension, requiring the filing of court documents. The company, which denies the allegations, is one of 22 businesses and individuals suspended from government work, pending findings of an Army bribery and fraud probe. Lee was awarded contracts in 2004 and 2005 to build supply warehouses, and paid bribes to at least two officers in the process, according to documents.

Ordnance experts stand behind a box of artillary shells in an ammunition storage site next to Aswalim village about 100 kilometers south- east of Baghdad , Iraq, on Sunday, June 10, 2007. Iraq contractors... (Associated Press)

Marines in Falluja point out blast marks on their Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs) to media during a visit by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to Camp Falluja in Iraq's Anbar province in... (Associated Press)

((c) soldiersmediacenter)

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21 others barred from government work in ongoing scandal probe

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Iraq • contracts • bribe • Kuwait • Lee Dynamics International • Gloria Davis

MOST POPULAR STORIES

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Panel Rips Army Fraud 'Crisis'

Raps military on wasted contract billions

Pentagon Investigates $6B in Contracts

Soldiers, civilians charged with taking bribes in Iraq

As US Leaves Iraq, It Eyes a Beefier Gulf Presence

US military looking to increase defense ties with states around region

Saddam Sought Soviet Help in '91

Declassified records reveal attempt to head off US attack

Iraq to Pay $400M to Saddam's US Victims

Deal will help lift UN sanctions

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Newser By Users

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