Americas News
U.S. Navy Commander Fired in Bribe Scandal
A U.S. Navy commander has been fired in a bribery scandal that includes charges that ships were overcharged for fuel and other products and services by a Singapore-based firm, Agence France-Presse reports.
Captain Daniel Dusek, commanding officer of the USS Bonhomme Richard, based in Japan, was relieved of his duties "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command," the Navy said.
The U.S. Justice Department is investigating Dusek, although he has not been charged with a crime.
The Singapore firm, Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA), and its CEO, Leonard Francis, have been charged with conspiracy to commit bribery in relation to accusations that the company provided money, prostitutes, and luxury travel in exchange for contracts for naval services.
Another U.S. naval officer, Commander Michael Misiewicz, has been charged in the case, along with John Beliveau, a supervisory special agent for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).
Authorities say Misiewicz directed ships to ports where GDMA overcharged them in return for access to prostitutes, travel, and other bribes.
Beliveau is accused of supplying the head of GDMA with information about the investigation.
The case involves contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars, according to the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Southern California, which announced the investigation last month.
GDMA, a division of Glen Marine Group, is "Asia–Pacific's leading naval logistics and marine husbanding service provider with a customer base spanning 54 million square miles," according to its website.
