Our foreign talent - are they all crooks?

[winnipegjets]

US navy commander accused of giving secrets to businessman in bribery case

Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz and Leonard Francis moved vessels around Asian ports like chess pieces, prosecutors say

Monday 4 November 2013 08.33 GMT


A gregarious Malaysian businessman nicknamed "Fat Leonard" is accused of obtaining military secrets by arranging prostitutes, Lady Gaga tickets and other bribes for a US commander.

Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz, a US navy commander, passed confidential information on ship routes to Leonard Francis's Singapore-based company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd (GDMA), according to court documents.

The accusations unfolding in a federal court case signal serious national security breaches and corruption, and threaten to sweep up more people, including those of higher ranks, as the investigation continues. A hearing on 8 November could set a trial date.

Misiewicz and Francis moved navy vessels like chess pieces, diverting aircraft carriers, destroyers and other ships to Asian ports with lax oversight where Francis could inflate costs, according to the criminal complaint. The firm overcharged the navy millions for fuel, food and other services it provided, and invented tariffs by using fake port authorities, the prosecution alleges.

"It's pretty big when you have one person who can dictate where ships are going to go and being influenced by a contractor," said the retired rear admiral Terry McKnight, who has no direct knowledge of the investigation. "A lot of people are saying: 'How could this happen?'"

So far, authorities have arrested Misiewicz, Francis, his company's general manager of global government contracts, Alex Wisidagama, and the senior navy investigator John Beliveau II. Beliveau is accused of keeping Francis updated on the investigation and advising him on how to respond in exchange for luxury trips, prostitution services and more.

All have pleaded not guilty. The defendants face up to five years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to commit bribery. Defence attorneys declined to comment.

Senior navy officials said they believed more people were likely to be implicated in the scheme, but it was too early to tell how many or how high it would go in the naval ranks. Other unnamed navy personnel are mentioned in court documents as getting gifts from Francis.

Francis is legendary in military circles for his extravagance. His bungalow in an upscale Singapore neighbourhood has drawn spectators for years with its lavish, outdoor Christmas decorations, which the Straits Times newspaper described as rivalling the island city state's main shopping street.

"He's a larger-than-life figure," McKnight said. "You talk to any captain on any ship that has sailed in the Pacific and they will know exactly who he is."

A navy spokesman, Rear Admiral John Kirby, said navy criminal investigative service agents had initiated their probe in 2010, but declined to comment, citing the investigation.

Francis's company cheated the navy out of $10m in just one year in Thailand alone, the US attorney Laura Duffy said.

The federal government has suspended its contracts with Francis.

 

[winnipegjets]

The race is Indian from Malaysia. How he became so buddy buddy with the Americans?

 

[winnipegjets]

THE US Navy's sex-for-spy-secrets scandal has spread with the sacking of the commander of the US warship involved in the dropping of unarmed bombs on Queensland's Great Barrier Reef in July.

Commanding officer Daniel Dusek was escorted off his amphibious assault ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard, in the waters off Japan in relation to an alleged plot where prostitutes, luxury hotels and Lady Gaga concert tickets were offered in return for classified information on ship movements to benefit a defence contractor.

While Captain Dusek has not been charged, he is the third senior US naval officer implicated in the scandal that saw the movements of US naval taskforces in the Asia Pacific allegedly manipulated so that one company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, could massively overcharge the US Seventh Fleet for servicing its ships.

The Australian yesterday revealed that the US Navy had banned the company from servicing its ships in Australia, including the USS Chosin, which took part in yesterday's centenary anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy in Sydney Harbour.

The RAN is also investigating whether the alleged bribery and prostitution scam has had an impact on its own operations, with the RAN having paid Glenn Marine for port services when berthing its ships in Singapore.

Glenn Defense Marine chief executive Leonard Francis has been charged, along with a former US naval commander Michael Misiewicz and a US special agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, John Beliveau, with obtaining and using confidential information to extort the US Seventh Fleet.

In ordering the removal of Captain Dusek from his warship on Wednesday, US Rear Admiral Hugh Wetherald said he no longer had confidence in his ability to command. "The investigation negatively affected Dusek's leadership ability and was a distraction to his command mission," he said.

Captain Dusek captained the USS Bonhomme Richard during a visit to Australia in July and August where his ship became embroiled in the mishap that saw two US fighter jets drop four unarmed bombs on the world-heritage-listed Barrier Reef.

The planes were forced to drop the bombs, weighing a combined 100kg, because the range where the pilots planned to drop them was not clear of hazards. The pilots could not land with the bombs, so they were forced to drop them, but did so away from the coral to minimise environmental damage.

In August, Captain Dusek sailed the USS Bonhomme Richard to Darwin with 1700 US marines on board to participate in joint exercises.

"Sometimes I compare my job to being the mayor of a small town," Captain Dusek told the local media as he posed for photographs with Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles.



Glenn Defense Marine provides "husbandry" services to visiting warships in ports across Asia, such as co-ordinating berths, port fees, food, water and security. The company has offices in Sydney and Darwin.

It is alleged that Glenn CEO Mr Francis plied US Navy commanders with prostitutes, luxury hotels and, on one occasion, Lady Gaga tickets. In return they passed on classified information of planned US ship visits and played a role in influencing the timing of those visits so that Glenn Defense could position itself to secure the maximum possible payment for rendering services to those ships.

Investigators told a Californian court last month they had evidence of emails between the accused men discussing their plan and how to cover it up.

At one point Mr Francis sent a picture of a prostitute to alleged co-conspirator Mr Beliveau, the US NCIS investigator, asking: "Your kind of Babe?" Mr Beliveau replied: "Nice. You bet. Hopefully I'm her kind of guy, hehe."

- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...y-e6frg6n6-1226733177879#sthash.aAdTwjcx.dpuf

 

[singveld]

that's james t kirk

 

[winnipegjets]

http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20121223-391270.html

By Natasha Ann Zachariah
The Straits Times
Monday, Dec 24, 2012
Life-size reindeer, shimmery trees bathed in purple, red and green and one giant snowman. It is a Christmas get-up so bright, it is enough to rival the festive light-up down Orchard Road.

But this is not a mall. Instead, it is a 70,000 sq ft bungalow in Nassim Road belonging to Mr Leonard Francis, a Malaysian in his 40s, who runs a company that handles marine and offshore logistics and force protection. He has been putting on this extravagant Christmas light show for years, even when he was at his previous residence in Cluny Road.

His decorated houses have been featured in this newspaper three times - in 2007, 2008 and 2010.

Mr Francis, who is Catholic, says he goes all out for the season as it is an important time for him and his family. He is married to a housewife, 30, and has five children aged between four and 21. "Christmas is a time of peace and joy, so I wanted to share that spirit."

He says it was his late grandfather who started the family "tradition" of Christmas decorations. More than 30 years ago, he used to decorate his home in Pasir Panjang with Christmas lights and decorations around the garden and inside the house.

Mr Francis enlisted the help of a six-man team from his company, who spent two months coming up with the design for this year's spectacle.

The team sourced for the ornaments and lights online and brought them in from countries such as China and Japan. Mr Francis jokes: "I'm Santa Claus, giving the directions. I get a lot of ideas when I travel and see plenty of lights in cities such as Japan. I'm also a Disney fan so I know how they put on their lights."

While he declined to reveal his budget this year, The Straits Times 2010 report said that the team was given $100,000 then to work with.

Life! visited the house on Thursday night and got a complete look at the decorations beyond its gates.

Just behind the gate is a nativity scene, complete with a manger that guests can peer into. Lit trees, slightly taller than 2m, line the driveway and change colours at intervals. At the top of the driveway, white balls with red stars hang off trees dripping with white and blue lights.

Gnomes and duck figurines of various sizes as well as red and white poinsettias dot the staircase to the main door. There is also a towering, 12m fake Christmas tree, topped with an illuminated star.

The decorations have been causing drivers to stop since they went up on Dec15, while passers-by snap photos of themselves next to the beautiful lights.

Mr Francis does not mind. "I don't mind sharing the beauty. Since we've put it up, everyone from Singaporeans to foreigners have come by. Many people have also rung the doorbell to say how amazing and beautiful it looks."

While some might frown at the expense, he says: "You can't put a value on happiness. There are people who enjoy it and those who don't. But I hope that they can be positive about it because families come together to enjoy the lights."

Housewife Eleanor Doyle, 33, was clearly enjoying the sights when she stopped by with her three-year-old daughter, Sophie, on Thursday.

The British expatriate had driven from her condominium near Holland Village to view the house.

"A friend said I had to come here and check it out. I love that it's someone's house and done up so nicely. More houses should do this. It's even better than Orchard Road."

[email protected]

 

[rushifa666]

worship a man as a god. the lift only goes one direction for that

 

[enterprise2]

that's james t kirk

Anyone called me?? Sorry I am out of Earth at the moment am around Uranus area for some R & R. Back next week.