JGC Corp Agrees To Pay $219 Million Over Nigeria Bribery Charges

   DOW JONES NEWSWIRES 
 

Japan-based JGC Corp. (1963.TO) agreed to pay $218.8 million to resolve charges stemming from kickbacks allegedly paid to Nigerian government officials, the U.S. Justice Department said Wednesday.

According to the department, the so-called TSKJ joint venture among JGC, Kellogg Brown & Root Inc. (KBR), Technip S.A. (TKPPY) and Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. arranged to bribe Nigerian government officials in the awarding of more than $6 billion in contracts for liquefied natural gas facilities on Nigeria's Bonny Island.

A representative from JGC wasn't immediately available for comment.

The other companies involved have already pleaded guilty or settled separate charges.

The U.S.'s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act outlaws bribes paid to government officials in other countries.

"With today's resolution, each of the four companies in the TSKJ joint venture, the former chairman of the U.S. joint venture partner, and several other individuals have now been held accountable for a massive conspiracy to bribe Nigerian government officials to obtain lucrative construction contracts," said Mythili Raman, the Justice Department's principal deputy assistant attorney general.

Under the agreement, the Justice Department agreed to defer prosecution of JGC for two years if the company retains an independent compliance consultant to prevent further lapses. If the company meets certain conditions, the department will drop the criminal charge.

-By Drew FitzGerald, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2909; [e-mail]