US NAVY CORRUPTION CASE: Sikh woman sentenced to 33-month jail in Singapore - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

US NAVY CORRUPTION CASE: Sikh woman sentenced to 33-month jail in Singapore

Press Trust of India, Singapore | By
Jul 06, 2018 09:25 PM IST

Gursharan Kaur Sharon Rachael, a former lead contract specialist with the US Navy and based in Singapore, had the responsibility of managing ship husbanding contracts worth millions of dollar

A 57-year-old Singaporean Sikh woman was on Friday jailed for 33 months for her role in the largest and most extensive bribery and fraud conspiracy in the history of the United States Navy, according to media reports.

Gursharan, had received more than SGD 1,30,000 in bribes from Leonard Glenn Francis, the Malaysian CEO of maritime services company Glenn Defense Marine.(HT File Photo)
Gursharan, had received more than SGD 1,30,000 in bribes from Leonard Glenn Francis, the Malaysian CEO of maritime services company Glenn Defense Marine.(HT File Photo)

Gursharan Kaur Sharon Rachael, a former lead contract specialist with the US Navy and based in Singapore, had the responsibility of managing ship husbanding contracts worth millions of dollar, with duties such as drafting contract requirements, including negotiating and evaluating bids.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Gursharan, had received more than SGD 1,30,000 in bribes from Leonard Glenn Francis, the Malaysian CEO of maritime services company Glenn Defense Marine (Asia) (GDMA), in exchange for sensitive US Navy information, Channel News Asia reported.

Sentencing her to jail 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 Gursharan.

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 Judge also ordered that the SGD 1,30,278be surrendered by Gursharan to Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).

Between 2006 and 2013, Gursharan disclosed non-public information from the US Navy to Francis, which helped GDMA clinch 11 contracts worth a total of about USD 48 million, out of 14 contracts that the company bid for, according to the investigations by the CPIB.

Gursharan provided sensitive information pertaining to pricing strategies, price information of GDMA’s competitors and questions that the contracts review board had posed to GDMA’s competitors.

The fraud was uncovered after GDMA became the focus of investigations in the US in 2012.

Gursharan was charged more than two years ago for the corruption cases.

The bribe she received from Francis included SGD100,000 in cash for a condominium apartment down payment and a prudential policy apart from more than SGD30,000 worth of stays in luxury hotels like Ritz-Carlton in Bali and Dubai, as well as the Shangri-La Hotel in Jakarta.

The scandal has also resulted in the arrest and conviction of several navy officials in the US.

Gursharan’s lawyer Suresh Damodara pleaded for minimal punishment of her client, citing her illness. However, the Judge pointed out that Gursharan was not terminally ill currently and would be provided medical care while incarcerated.

Francis, the CEO of GDMA also nicknamed Fat Leonard, is in custody in the US and faces a maximum custodial term of 25 years for defrauding the navy of more than USD 35 million.

Twelve US Navy officials pleaded guilty in the US, while the highest-ranking official involved, Rear Admiral Robert Gilbeau, was sentenced to 18 months’ jail for making false statements to investigators.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On