Toronto: An Ontario judge has sentenced Ottawa businessman Nazir Karigar to three years in prison for arranging bribes to public officials in India in a failed bid to win a $100-million security contract from Air India.
Justice Charles Hackland of Ontario Superior Court in Ottawa convicted Karigar in August 2013 for a conspiracy that dates back to 2005-2006.
In Friday's sentencing, Hackland said that had the conspiracy been successful, it promised payouts of millions in cash and stock options.
"This must be viewed as a serious crime," Hackland told the court Friday. "This was a sophisticated and carefully planned bribery scheme intended to involve senior public officials at Air India and an Indian cabinet minister."
The landmark bribery case is being watched closely by law enforcement and international business observers, as it marks the first sentence handed down against an individual under Canada's Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (CFPOA), passed in 1999.
"I think it's an appropriate sentence," said Crown prosecutor Moray Welch. "The deliberate nature of the crime, the huge amounts of money at stake and the rational approach taken by the accused - and the accused in other cases like this - required that a message be sent. If they are caught a prison term will follow."
"We're disappointed with that ruling," said defence lawyer Israel Gencher.
30/05/14 South Asian Observer
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Justice Charles Hackland of Ontario Superior Court in Ottawa convicted Karigar in August 2013 for a conspiracy that dates back to 2005-2006.
In Friday's sentencing, Hackland said that had the conspiracy been successful, it promised payouts of millions in cash and stock options.
"This must be viewed as a serious crime," Hackland told the court Friday. "This was a sophisticated and carefully planned bribery scheme intended to involve senior public officials at Air India and an Indian cabinet minister."
The landmark bribery case is being watched closely by law enforcement and international business observers, as it marks the first sentence handed down against an individual under Canada's Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (CFPOA), passed in 1999.
"I think it's an appropriate sentence," said Crown prosecutor Moray Welch. "The deliberate nature of the crime, the huge amounts of money at stake and the rational approach taken by the accused - and the accused in other cases like this - required that a message be sent. If they are caught a prison term will follow."
"We're disappointed with that ruling," said defence lawyer Israel Gencher.
30/05/14 South Asian Observer
