Sixth US Navy officer caught in Singapore resupply bribe scandal
PUBLISHED : Friday, 22 November, 2013, 9:41pm
UPDATED : Saturday, 23 November, 2013, 2:25am
Agence France-Presse in Washington
A courtroom sketch of contractor Leonard Francis. Photo: Reuters
The US Navy has suspended another officer in a widening bribery scandal, as a Malaysian businessman allegedly at the heart of the scam was granted bail in California.
Captain David Haas, 45, was relieved as deputy commander of Coastal Riverine Group One and "temporarily reassigned" to the staff of another unit, becoming the sixth officer involved in the scandal.
"The decision to reassign Haas was made based upon allegations in connection" with a criminal investigation into defence contractor Glenn Defence Marine Asia, the navy said.
The Singapore-based firm is accused by federal authorities of offering prostitutes and pay-offs to secure lucrative government contracts to resupply naval ships.
Its CEO, Malaysian businessman Leonard Francis - dubbed "Fat Leonard" - is charged with conspiring to bribe naval and government officials.
Haas was suspended on November 15, but officials provided no other details about his alleged role in the widening scandal. It threatens to turn into one of the worst in the navy's history.
Haas is the latest naval officer to be implicated in the case. Three officers have been charged and two others - both admirals - were effectively suspended.
Haas, along with some other officers linked to the case, worked in the US Navy's 7th Fleet, which is based in Yokosuka, Japan and oversees dozens of warships across Asia.
Federal prosecutors allege naval officers divulged confidential ship movements to Francis and diverted vessels to ports requested by the businessman.
Francis then allegedly overcharged the US government to supply the ships with food, fuel, water and other items.
The Malaysian appeared in court on Thursday in San Diego, where a judge released him on bail - although with strict conditions and a legal stay which means he will not immediately go free. The bond was set at US$1 million plus US$100,000 to be posted by his aunt, a naturalised US citizen who lives in Maryland.
Francis will have to wear a GPS tracking device plus pay for a 24-hour guard at his apartment and an independent security company to monitor his movements via alarms and closed circuit television.
