Oracle to Pay $46 Million to U.S. To Settle Kickback Charges in Whistleblower Case. Government Continues Pursuit of Technology Companies.

Oracle has agreed to pay the U.S. $46 million to settle claims that Sun Microsystems Inc., acquired by Oracle last year, submitted false claims to the General Services Administration and other state agencies. The allegations were that Sun knowingly paid kickbacks to systems integrator companies to influence the government to buy Sun products. The allegations are part of a larger ongoing investigation of government technology vendors that has resulted in settlements with six other companies including Hewlett Packard. Whistleblowers Norman Rille and Neal Roberts will receive upto 25% of the $46 million for revealing the wrongdoing.