Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has agreed to a global settlement to resolve charges of corruption in four countries, including India. The company will pay more than $205 million (Rs 1,371 crore approximately) to American and Brazilian authorities for allegedly violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, The Indian Express reported. It will pay $107 million (Rs 716 crore approximately) to the US Justice Department as part of a deferred prosecution agreement, and more than $98 million (Rs 655 crore approximately) in disgorgement and interest to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In an official statement, the company said, “The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced a global settlement along with the US Department of Justice and Brazilian authorities that requires aircraft manufacturer Embraer SA to pay more than USD 205 million.” The company has been accused of paying $5.76 million (Rs 38.5 crore approximately) in kickbacks to an NRI defence consultant, Vipin Khanna, who is the key accused in the case. The deal is related to the purchase of three specialised military aircraft for the Indian air Force. The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a First Information Report in the case.
Besides India, Embraer has also been accused of paying bribes in Dominican Republic, Saudi Arabia, and Mozambique. The company made profits of around $83 million through the projects it paid bribes for in foreign countries, according to a complaint filed by the Commission. It said Embraer paid $3.52 million (Rs 23 crore approximately) to Dominican Republic for a defence contract, $1.65 million (Rs 11 crore approximately) to Saudi officials, and $8,00,000 (Rs 5.3 crore approximately) for a contract with a government-owned airline in Mozambique.
Andrew J Ceresney, director of the SEC Enforcement Division, said, “As alleged in our complaint, Embraer realised significant revenues by surreptitiously using third parties to mask bribes paid to government officials with influence over contracts it was competing to win.” Kara N Brockmeyer, another official, said the company’s alleged misconduct spanned multiple continents, and it had taken significant ongoing coordination among international agencies to uncover the complex bribery schemes.
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