US firm bribed netas and babus for Goa, Guwahati projects

Washington, July 18: A New Jersey-based construction magement firm has been charged with bribing Indian officials several crores of rupees to win two major water developmental projects in Goa and in Guwahati.

The bribery of $976,630 for a Goa project by Louis Berger included payments to a minister, details of which have not been disclosed by the US Department of Justice.

Yesterday, the company agreed to pay $17.1 million crimil fine to resolve charges that it bribed officials in India, Indonesia, Vietm and Kuwait to secure government construction magement contracts.

Two of its former executives - Richard Hirsch (61) of Philippines, and James McClung (59) of the UAE - pleaded guilty to the bribery charges.