Tyco Pays $26.8 million to settle Middle East foreign bribery case

A Tyco subsidiary, Tyco Valves & Controls Middle East Inc. admitted paying bribes to officials employed by the state controlled oil and gas company in Saudi Arabia to get contracts. The Justice Department agreed to settle the claim for a payment of $26.8 million. In addition, Tyco’s China unit paid a bribe in connection with a $770,000 contract with the Chinese Ministry of Public security. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits payments of bribes to foreign officials or their families or agents. There is a section of the law which allows whistleblowers to report foreign bribes and recover a percentage of what the government recovers. Jeffrey Newman represents whistleblowers both in this country and in other nations.