Lucent Bribed Saudi Telecom Minister, U.S. Suit Says

Bloomberg terminal no url | 8/11/3

[NativeNewYorker]

     Aug. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Lucent Technologies Inc., the largest

U.S. telephone-equipment maker, won favorable treatment from Saudi

Arabia's telecommunication agency by paying more than $15 million

in bribes to the agency's minister, a lawsuit claims.

     The National Group of Communications and Computers Ltd., a

Saudi-based company, says Lucent paid the money to Ali Al-Johani,

whose ministry oversaw the Saudi-run phone system. National Group,

now known as Silki-La-Silki National Telecom Ltd., sued in U.S.

District Court in Manhattan.

     In return for the alleged bribes, Al-Johani directed Saudi

Telecommun Co. to take actions that favored Lucent, the suit says.

Lucent, based in Murray Hill, New Jersey, was allowed to end a

contract that it had with National Group, costing the Saudi

company $63 million, the suit says.

     ''The bribes consisted of free use of a private jet aircraft

for Al-Johani and his family from 1995 to at least 2000,'' the

suit says. Also, Lucent paid expenses for Al-Johani and his family

and made a $2 million gift to a Seattle hospital at the minister's

insistence, the suit says.

     Lucent in 2001 won a four-year, $150 million contract from

Saudi Telecom to upgrade the country's telecommunications network.

In 2000, Lucent won two contracts valued at $145 million from

Saudi Telecom for optical gear that boosts network capacity.

     The suit seeks damages of at least $63 million.

     Lucent spokesman John Skalko didn't have an immediate comment

on the suit, which was filed Friday.

[Gunrunner2]

Bribery and shady dealings taking place in the Kingdom where the Religion of Peace is the way of the land. . .I'm shocked, I tell you. . .shocked!!

;-)