Malaysian held in US navy bribery case escapes arrest in San Diego
Malaysian held in US navy bribery case escapes arrest in San Diego
Robert Besser
10 Sep 2022, 04:13 GMT+10
- A Malaysian businessman involved in a major U.S. Navy bribery scandal has escaped house arrest by cutting off his monitoring anklet
- Leonard Glenn Francis, popularly known as “Fat Leonard” provided Navy officers with expensive cigars, rare cognac and wild sex parties in luxury hotels in exchange for contracts
- The Union-Tribune stated that local law enforcement and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are participating in the search for Francis
SAN DIEGO, California: A Malaysian businessman involved in a major U.S. Navy bribery scandal has escaped house arrest by cutting off his monitoring anklet, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Citing the U.S. Marshal’s office, the newspaper reported that ahead of his impending sentencing, Leonard Glenn Francis, popularly known as “Fat Leonard,” cut off his GPS anklet, adding that when police went to his home, they found him missing.
According to prosecutors, in exchange for contracts, Francis provided Navy officers with gifts, such as cash, expensive cigars, rare cognac and wild sex parties in luxury hotels.
The Union-Tribune stated that local law enforcement and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are participating in the search for Francis.
Officials said that neighbors reported moving trucks going into and out of Francis’ home in recent days.
Francis had been cooperating with U.S. investigators and was released on medical grounds and placed under house arrest. He was due to be sentenced on 22nd September, the Union-Tribune said.
Under a wide-ranging bribery and fraud scheme involving his Singapore-based company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, which serviced ships in the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet, Francis pleaded guilty to bribing Navy officials in 2015.
Calling the scheme a colossal fraud that cost the U.S. Navy tens of millions of dollars, the U.S. Justice Department charged more than 30 people.
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