(Image source from: The Straits Times)
A Singaporean woman, hailing from India was imprisoned on Friday for up to three years for her part in the most extensive bribery and fraud conspiracy in the history of the United States Navy, according to media reports.
The 57-year-old Gursharan Kaur Sharon Rachael, a former lead contract specialist with the U.S. Navy and based in Singapore, had the duty of managing ship husbanding contracts worth millions of dollars, with responsibilities such as drafting contract requirements, including negotiating and evaluating bids.
Through the Malaysian Chief Executive Officer of maritime services company Glenn Defense Marine (Asia) (GDMA) Leonard Glenn Francis, Kaur had received more than Singapore Dollar 130,000 in bribes in exchange for delicate U.S. Navy information, according to report.
Sentencing her to imprison term of two years and nine months for three charges of corruption and one for dealing with benefits of criminal conduct, District Judge Shaiffudin Saruwan said that there was "flagrant abuse of trust and authority" by Kaur.
He further said that there was also "a high level of premeditation", with steps taken to avoid detection, a sustained period of offending of seven years and a "high amount of gratification" by the accused.
The Magistrate as well ordered that the Singapore Dollar 130,278.34 be relinquished by Kaur to Singapore's Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
Between 2006 and 2013, she unveiled non-public information from the U.S. Navy to Francis, which aided GDMA to clinch 11 contracts worth a whole of about USD 48 million, out of 14 contracts that the company bid for, according to the investigations by the CPIB.
She likewise rendered sensitive information referring to pricing strategies, price information of GDMA's rivals and questions that the contracts review board had posed to GDMA's competitors.
The fraud was exposed after GDMA became the focus of probe in the U.S. in 2012. Kaur was charged more than two years ago for the corruption cases.
The payoff she accepted from Francis enclosed Singapore Dollar 100,000 in hard cash for a condominium apartment down payment and a prudential policy apart from more than SGD 30,000 worth of stays in luxury hotels.
The scandal has besides resulted in the apprehension and conviction of various navy officials in the U.S.
Kaur's attorney Suresh Damodara pleaded for a minimum penalty of her client, citing her malady. Nevertheless, the Magistrate pointed out that she was not terminally ill presently and would be rendered medical care while imprisoned.
The CEO of GDMA Francis as well known by name Fat Leonard is in detention in the U.S. and faces a supreme custodial term of 25 years for swindling the navy of more than the U.S. $35 million.
Twelve U.S. Navy officials pleaded guilty in the U.S., while the highest-ranking authoritative caught up, Rear Admiral Robert Gilbeau, was the judgment of convicted to 18 months of imprisonment for making mendacious statements to investigators.
By Sowmya Sangam
