A fugitive defence contractor often called “Fat Leonard” who was on the centre of the US Navy’s worst corruption scandal will likely be returned to the US as a part of a prisoner swap with Venezuela, Washington has introduced.
The Malaysian, whose actual title is Leonard Glenn Francis, has been accused by US prosecutors of plying Navy officers with money, costly meals, cigars and uncommon cognac, in addition to wild intercourse events in luxurious accommodations, in trade for contracts.
He was the topic of the podcast collection Fat Leonard.
Ten Americans imprisoned within the South American nation have been swapped for Alex Saab, an in depth ally of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Six Americans the US classifies as having been wrongfully detained, in addition to 4 others, have now arrived again within the US.
“These individuals have lost far too much precious time with their loved ones, and their families have suffered every day in their absence,” US President Joe Biden stated in an announcement. “I am grateful that their ordeal is finally over.”
Mr Maduro additionally agreed to launch no less than 20 opposition-linked prisoners from jail.
Francis pleaded responsible in 2015 to providing $500,000 (£396,000) in bribes to US Navy officers as a part of an enormous fraud and bribery scheme involving his ship-servicing firm, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, in Singapore.
Prosecutors allege he additionally redirected army vessels to ports that have been profitable for his firm and overcharged the US army by greater than $35m (£28m) for providers.
He was positioned below home arrest in 2018 whereas cooperating with investigators and performing as a witness for the prosecution earlier than chopping off his GPS monitoring anklet and fleeing residence custody in California in September 2022.
He was arrested by Venezuelan police making an attempt to board a flight from Venezuela to Russia.
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The prisoner swap can even see Mr Saab returned to Venezuela.
He was accused of siphoning off $350m (£277m) from Venezuela by way of the US in a scheme involving bribing Venezuelan authorities officers. He denies the cost in opposition to him.
Mr Maduro celebrated his return as a “triumph for truth” and added: “President Biden, we won’t be anyone’s colony.”
It was the newest concession by the Biden administration geared toward bringing residence Americans who’ve been jailed abroad and follows an trade with Russia that noticed arms vendor Viktor Bout swapped for basketball star Brittney Griner.
Source: information.sky.com”