Alcatel-Lucent pays $137 million for bribe claims

Alcatel-Lucent agreed to pay US authorities $137 million to resolve allegations the telecom giant bribed Latin American and Asian government officials to win telecom contracts.

US authorities allege Alcatel subsidiaries paid $14 million in phony consulting contracts as part of the bribery scheme. Of the $14 million, roughly half went to Costa Rican officials to win and maintain three telephone contracts valued at $303 million.

In addition, Alcatel officials made illicit payments to officials in Honduras, Taiwan and Malaysia, from 2001 through 2006, officials alleged.

Original source: Financial Times