KUALA LUMPUR – One of the five US Navy officers embroiled in the “Fat Leonard” bribery scandal is off the hook after San Diego federal prosecutors dismissed the charges today.
This came after jurors were unable to reach a verdict in the case brought against former rear admiral Bruce Loveless, reported ABC 10News San Diego.
With this, Loveless will not face a retrial.
He was among those charged in February for accepting bribes from defence contractor Leonard Glenn “Fat Leonard” Francis.
Four other officers – former commander Mario Herrera and former captains David Newland, James Dolan and David Lausman – were convicted of conspiracy, bribery and other charges.
Prosecutors had accused the defendants, who were in the Seventh Fleet, of accepting bribes to provide Francis with classified information such as ship schedules and abusing their navy positions to ensure ships berth at ports serviced by Francis’ Singapore-based company, Glenn Defence Marine Asia.
The prosecution also claimed that the company overcharged the US Navy by more than US$35 million (RM147 million).
The officers were also accused of being feted with expensive meals, luxury hotel rooms and entertained by prostitutes that were paid for by Francis.
So far, more than two dozen others pleaded guilty in connection with the scandal.
Penang-born Francis escaped his home arrest in San Diego weeks before his sentence hearing on September 22 where he could potentially face up to 25 years in prison.
He was arrested in San Diego in 2013 and pleaded guilty in 2015, but sentencing was held off when he turned star witness for the prosecution.
The United States Marshal Service (USMS) is offering a US$40,000 reward for information leading to Francis’ arrest but he is believed to have left the US after cutting off his GPS monitoring ankle bracelet.
Currently, 10 US federal, state and local agencies have been ordered to hunt for Francis. Mexican authorities have also been told of Francis’ escape seeing that he is most likely to run for the border as the premises he was at is 40 minutes away.
The US Marshals Service also issued a notice appealing for public tips.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which spearheaded the massive case against Francis more than a decade ago, is also assisting in the search for him.
Neighbours told authorities that they had seen U-Haul moving trucks going in and out of Francis’ home in the days leading up to his escape.
Leonard apparently began his career of corrupting the US military when he was invited to a July 4 celebration held by the US Embassy in Malaysia where he met with naval officers and attaches. – The Vibes, September 16, 2022
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