Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Central Oregon fire prompts resort, neighborhood to evacuate ... Playing with fire: Stalwarts wait it out at Diamond Lake as flames march closer ... Haggen to close stores in Grants Pass, Klamath Falls ... Central Oregon fire prompts resort, neighborhood to evacuate ... Playing with fire: Stalwarts wait it out at Diamond Lake as flames march closer ... Haggen to close stores in Grants Pass, Klamath Falls ... WILSONVILLE Oregon-based defense contractor settles bribery charges for $9.5 million Comment By Steven DuBois The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Steven DuBois The Associated Press Posted Apr. 8, 2015 at 4:47 PM By Steven DuBois The Associated Press Posted Apr. 8, 2015 at 4:47 PM » Social News PORTLAND — Oregon-based defense contractor FLIR Systems Inc. has agreed to pay $9.5 million to settle bribery charges filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission that involved expensive trips and gifts given to Middle Eastern government officials. The Securities and Exchange Commission announced the deal Wednesday, saying the thermal-imaging company earned more than $7 million in profits from sales influenced by the gifts. The commission said two employees in FLIR's Dubai office gave luxury watches to five officials with the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Interior in 2009. The company also arranged travel for Saudi officials, including a 20-night trip with stops in Beirut, Casablanca, Dubai, New York and Paris. "FLIR's deficient financial controls failed to identify and stop the activities of employees who served as de facto travel agents for influential foreign officials to travel around the world on the company's dime," said Kara Brockmeyer, chief of the SEC enforcement division's Foreign Corrupt Practices Act unit. The SEC said in a news release that FLIR reported the misconduct and cooperated with the investigation. Officials with the Wilsonville-based company echoed those remarks. "The actions of the former employees involved do not reflect the values of FLIR or the high standards to which we hold ourselves accountable," FLIR CEO Andy Teich said in a statement. The two former sales employees, Stephen Timms and Yasser Ramahi, agreed in November to settle SEC charges against them and pay financial penalties. FLIR got a multimillion-dollar contract to provide thermal binoculars to the Saudi government in November 2008.  Timms and Ramahi were responsible for the contract. They also negotiated sales of FLIR's security cameras to the same government officials. The SEC said Timms and Ramahi had Foreign Corrupt Practices Act training and were specifically told that luxury watches and vacations were prohibited gifts. The men falsified records in an attempt to conceal their behavior, the SEC found. Besides paying $9.5 million, FLIR must report to the SEC on its efforts to comply with the corrupt practices law for two years. By Steven DuBois The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Steven DuBois The Associated Press Posted Apr. 8, 2015 at 4:47 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501