Wyatt Confesses

Oscar Wyatt, the Texan oil tycoon on trial for paying kickbacks to Saddam Hussein, has confessed that he paid illegal kickbacks to Saddam in exchange for oil contracts through the U.N. oil-for-food program.

Wyatt, who is 83, opted for a plea bargain and agreed to serve up to 24 months behind bars.

Wyatt must also pay the $11M he made as a result of his dealings with Iraq between 2000 and 2003.

Wyatt's sentencing date is set for November 27th.

Saddam's Old Friend

Saddam Hussein allegedly told Houston oilman Oscar Wyatt in 1995, that the ranks of Iraq's friends had dwindled so much during the years of economic sanctions he could count them on one hand.

Iraqi-American consultant Samir Vincent told the federal court, trying Wyatt for paying kickbacks to Saddam:

"You are one of them."

Wyatt allegedly replied:

"I appreciate the gesture, Mr. President. I feel the same way about Iraq."

Vincent, appearing for the prosecution, said that he accompanied Wyatt on seven or eight trips to Iraq between 1991 and 1997.

Vincent identified a photograph he said showed Saddam sitting with Wyatt, Vincent and Tariq Aziz, Iraq's former deputy prime minister.

At that time Iraq was under international sanctions, and Americans were barred from spending any money to travel to Iraq without the U.S. government's permission.

The Wyatt Trial

Oscar Wyatt, a Texan oil billionaire, is now being tried in the US accused of paying millions of dollars in kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's government.

Wyatt, 83, is pleading not guilty. However, if convicted, he faces 74 years in jail.

Assistant US Attorney Stephen Miller opened for the prosecution by stating:

"When the world imposed sanctions on Iraq, Oscar Wyatt stepped up to help them evade sanctions."

Wyatt's lawyers contend that he "did not pay any surcharge to the Iraqis".

Wyatt faces five charges, including engaging in prohibited financial transactions with Iraq.

Tip Off Trial

U.S. District Judge Denny Chin has ruled that prosecutors can introduce evidence (in the form of a diary) in the trial of Oscar Wyatt, a Texas oil tycoon, that shows that Wyatt tipped off Iraq about the impending 2003 US invasion.

Judge Chin also allowed evidence that the defence claims unfairly suggested that payments made by Wyatt to Iraq's state oil marketing organisation were bribes passed on to Saddam Hussein.

Wyatt will stand trial on September 5, at a federal court in Manhattan, accused of paying millions of dollars in kickbacks to Iraq to win oil contracts and corrupting the oil-for-food program.

The judge agreed with prosecutors who said that the diary was needed to show Wyatt's close ties with Iraqi officials.

Quote:

"It shows Mr. Wyatt was trying extremely hard to get additional (oil) allocations," the judge said. "Why was the Iraq government treating Mr. Wyatt so well? Why did he get the first (oil) allocation? ... This is further evidence of that relationship."

Was Saddam Tipped Off?

The prosecution of Oscar S. Wyatt Jr., a Texas businessman accused of being involved in the Iraqi oil scandal, alleged that he told the Iraqi government crucial details of the impending 2003 American invasion of Iraq.

Lawyers for Wyatt said that the allegations, contained in an Iraqi official's diary, were highly prejudicial and irrelevant and should be kept out of his upcoming trial.

Quote:

"This document essentially alleges that Wyatt has committed the deplorable crime of treason and aided an enemy of the United States."

Wyatt is charged with conspiring to pay millions in kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's regime, to win contracts under the United Nations' oil-for-food program in Iraq.

The statements about him were contained in a diary kept by an employee of Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organisation. The diary suggests Wyatt notified the Iraqi government that the United States would bomb Iraq, when it would invade Iraq and how many soldiers would be sent.

Wyatt has pleaded not guilty, and is scheduled to go to trial in early September.