Former Chadian Diplomats to the US Charged With Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme
Two former Chadian diplomats posted to the U.S. were charged with bribery and money laundering after allegedly accepting a $2 million bribe from a Canadian energy company in exchange for obtaining oil rights in the African nation. Mahamoud Bechir and Youssouf Takane took the bribe and conspired to launder it while serving as diplomats in Chad's Embassy in Washington, 2009 to 2014, the Department of Justice said in a May 24 news release. The diplomats allegedly pledged to leverage their influence in Chad to secure the energy company the oil rights. The president of the Canadian company, Naeem Tyab, pleaded guilty to violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
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Tyab arranged for the $2 million bribe to be paid to Bechir's wife, co-defendant Nouracham Bechir Niam, along with issuing shares of the firm to Takane's wife and to a third Chadian person, DOJ said. The four defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. Bechir, Takane and Niam are also charged with money laundering, DOJ said. “These defendants allegedly engaged in a multimillion dollar bribery scheme while in the United States and then used the U.S. financial system to launder the bribes to conceal their conduct,” Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas McQuaid said. “The charges unsealed today demonstrate the department’s determined commitment to investigate and prosecute corruption wherever it occurs and the officials who use our financial system to launder their bribes. Corruption undermines trust in governments and prevents the free market from functioning fairly for law-abiding people and companies.”