“Fighting global corruption is part of the fabric of the Department of Justice,” O'Neil said.
“The charges against six foreign nationals announced today send the unmistakable message that we will root out and attack foreign bribery and bring to justice those who improperly influence foreign officials, wherever we find them,” he said.
Beginning in 2006, the defendants allegedly conspired to pay at least USD 18.5 million in bribes to secure licenses to mine minerals in Andhra Pradesh.
The mining project was expected to generate more than USD 500 million annually from the sale of titanium products, including sales to unnamed “Company A”, headquartered in Chicago.
The indictment seeks forfeiture from all six defendants of more than USD 10.59 million.
The indictment alleges that these individuals used US financial institutions to engage in the international transmission of millions of dollars for the purpose of bribing Indian public officials to obtain approval of the necessary licenses for the project.
They allegedly financed the project and transferred and concealed bribe payments through an international conglomerate of companies Group DF.
They have been accused of using threats and intimidation to advance the interests of the enterprise's illegal activities.
According to the indictment, Firtash was the leader of the enterprise and caused the participation of Group DF companies in the project.
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