The Trial of Saddam Hussein and The Fallout of The War

The Trial of Saddam Hussein

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The fallout in the Middle East from the regime change in Iraq

Friday, February 23, 2007

Iraq Bribe Scandal

Tongsun Park, a South Korean businessman and lobbyist, has has been jailed for five years for accepting kickbacks from Saddam Hussein to subvert the UN's oil-for-food program in Iraq.

Park was convicted on conspiracy charges in July 2006, for receiving at least $2M from Baghdad.

Park was sentenced at a hearing in New York.

US District Court Judge Denny Chin, sentencing Park, said that the 5 year term was "harsh" for a man of Park's age (71) and health but was reasonable and appropriate.

Park was also fined $15K, and told to forfeit $1.2M.

Mr Park travelled to Iraq to collect $700K in cash, and accepted envelopes stuffed with $100 notes, Judge Chin said.

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"You acted out of greed, acted to profit out of what was supposed to be a humanitarian program."

Park is also due to face trial in Washington DC, accused of making false statements about his role in the UN programme in an interview with FBI agents in December 2004.