DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
Japan-based JGC Corp. (1963.TO) agreed to pay $218.8 million to
resolve charges stemming from kickbacks allegedly paid to Nigerian
government officials, the U.S. Justice Department said
Wednesday.
According to the department, the so-called TSKJ joint venture
among JGC, Kellogg Brown & Root Inc. (KBR), Technip S.A.
(TKPPY) and Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. arranged to bribe
Nigerian government officials in the awarding of more than $6
billion in contracts for liquefied natural gas facilities on
Nigeria's Bonny Island.
A representative from JGC wasn't immediately available for
comment.
The other companies involved have already pleaded guilty or
settled separate charges.
The U.S.'s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act outlaws bribes paid to
government officials in other countries.
"With today's resolution, each of the four companies in the TSKJ
joint venture, the former chairman of the U.S. joint venture
partner, and several other individuals have now been held
accountable for a massive conspiracy to bribe Nigerian government
officials to obtain lucrative construction contracts," said Mythili
Raman, the Justice Department's principal deputy assistant attorney
general.
Under the agreement, the Justice Department agreed to defer
prosecution of JGC for two years if the company retains an
independent compliance consultant to prevent further lapses. If the
company meets certain conditions, the department will drop the
criminal charge.
-By Drew FitzGerald, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2909;
andrew.fitzGerald@dowjones.com