- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

‘Disgrace Upon US Navy': Fat Leonard Corruption Affair Implicates Senior Admiral

© Photo : US AFRICOM Public AffairsCASABLANCA, Morocco - Rear Admiral Kenneth "K.J." Norton, deputy chief of staff for strategy, resources, and plans at U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, receives honors from members of the Royal Moroccan Navy following a command briefing and discussion between the Naval Forces Europe-Africa and the Royal Moroccan Navy, February 2, 2012
CASABLANCA, Morocco - Rear Admiral Kenneth K.J. Norton, deputy chief of staff for strategy, resources, and plans at U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, receives honors from members of the Royal Moroccan Navy following a command briefing and discussion between the Naval Forces Europe-Africa and the Royal Moroccan Navy, February 2, 2012 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Yet another top United States Navy (USN) commander has been snared in the biggest corruption scandal in the Navy's history, on that has goes back years and has involved hundreds of senior officers and crewman.

In a public statement released this Wednesday, the US Navy stated that Rear Admiral Kenneth Norton was issued a Secretarial Letter of Censure, an administrative reprimand, for his involvement in the so-called "Fat Leonard" corruption scheme.

The scandal that dates as far back as 2007 featured a Singapore-based defense contractor Leonard Glenn "Fat Leonard" Francis and company Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA), which serviced the USN ships at Asian ports, supplying fuel and tugboats.

Bribe - Sputnik International
‘Fat Leonard' Corruption Probe Ensnares Additional 60 US Navy Admirals
Spokesperson for the US Navy Richard Spencer claimed that Norton "was found to have repeatedly and improperly accepted gifts from GDMA" during his service as the commander of an aircraft carrier USS Ronald Regan from 2008 to 2010.

"Further Norton's personal behavior was found to have constituted conduct unbecoming an officer", Spencer said.

"The review concluded that he intentionally disregarded the ethical standards long established for the naval service and brought ill-repute and disgrace upon the U.S. Navy".

The statement, however, did not provide any details of Norton's exact role in the infamous corruption scandal that has rocked the Navy for the past decade.

READ MORE: US Navy Commander Latest Casualty of $35 Million ‘Fat Leonard’ Scandal

The "Fat Leonard" affair came to light in 2013 after 20 current and former USN officers were charged with fraud and bribery, accepting cash, gifts and even services of sex workers from Francis in exchange for leading their ships to ports where the GDMA operated, channeling millions of taxpayers' money to the corrupt defense contractor.

US flag - Sputnik International
US Navy Investigating Two SEALs in Connection With Murder of Green Beret in Mali
The affair, which was branded by US Attorney Alana Robinson as "fleecing and betrayal of the United States Navy in epic proportions, [which] was allegedly carried out by the Navy's highest-ranking officers," implicated some 440 active and former USN personnel.

Amongst those who are currently being investigated for their involvement in the scheme are 60 current and retired Navy Admirals.

These include Norton's predecessor as the commander of the Reagan, Rear Admiral Terry Kraft, who also received the Letter of Censure and was forced out from the Navy.

 

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала