Ex-health inspectors charged in S.F. bribe scheme

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 12/14/11 | Vivian Ho, Chronicle Staff Writer

[SmithL]

Two former San Francisco environmental health inspectors have been charged with taking bribes and falsifying food safety manager certifications for hundreds of local restaurant managers and owners, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Clifton Sanders, 41, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to bribery and falsification of public records charges. Ajamu Stewart, 54, pleaded not guilty to bribery, perjury and falsification of public records at his arraignment Dec. 6.

Both Sanders and Stewart are former employees of the city Public Health Department. Each took hundreds of bribes of $100 to $200 apiece from restaurant managers and owners in 2007 and 2008 in exchange for allowing them to pass their food safety manager exams, District Attorney George Gascón said.

Under California law, a food business must have at least one person on staff with the certification.

[SmithL]

And in completely unrelated news, OpenTable names the 100 best restaurants; Ruth’s Chris in Florida makes the cut, but no San Francisco places

[RetiredTexasVet]

I’ve been told that California has some of the toughest food inspection standards and laws in the country. I’ve also been told that Chicago has some of the toughest gun laws in the country. But in either place you could end up being dead in spite of the toughest laws.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks SmithL. Of course there are tough laws in California -- how can the inspectors make a living otherwise?

...Clifton Sanders, 41... Ajamu Stewart, 54...

[freedomfiter2]

Big deal. More corrupt government thugs. That’s why government exists these days.

[Eric Mars]

Isn’t this the same department that was selling phony massage certificates? Who runs this cesspool of corruption. Why isn’t there a competent manager running the department....