Navy commander Mario Herrera was caught in a corruption scandal
The Ministry of justice announced on Thursday that the commander of the Navy implicated in the bribery scandal that engulfed the 17 personnel of the Navy, including Admiral of the fleet.
48-year-old Commander Mario Herrera is accused of receiving bribes from the former CEO of the Singapore defense contractor Asia (GDMA) Leonard Francis. The complaint alleges that in exchange for "expensive travel and entertainment," Herrera helped GDMA to raise the naval business, partially double-guiding ships "on alternative routes that brought benefit" to the contractor at a cost the Navy $ 3.6 million.
13 of the arrested suspects have admitted their guilt after the scandal. They will be punished and the penalty imposed to date, up to 12 years in prison and a fine of $20 million, according to the Ministry of justice.
Francis, nicknamed "Fat Leonard," allegedly used his connections with the Navy in Asia, to trick the service, and in the process of several senior naval officers that were involved in the bribery scheme. Francis pleaded guilty to charges of receiving a bribe in 2015. The Francis company provides services for military ships, including fuel and tugs.
Rear Admiral Robert Gilbee, special assistant to the chief of the Navy supply corps, pleaded guilty last year on charges of lying to investigators about his relationship with Francis. Herrera was arrested in San Antonio today. It needs to appear in Federal court in Texas, although the government is keen to move his business to San Diego.
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