About $25 million be forfeited to U.S. to resolve criminal case
Federal prosecutors have announced a settlement in a case involving falsified records about supplies being provided to the military.
The U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release on March 5 that the civil settlement is part of a global settlement involving a criminal case and False Claims Act allegations in which approximately $25 million will be forfeited to the United States.
Court documents say Hikmatullah Shadman operated companies which charged the U.S. more than $77 million for delivering supplies to service members. An investigation found thousands of apparent falsified documents submitted by Shadman’s companies for payment.
Shadman’s primary company pleaded guilty in January to paying gratuities to two U.S. service members in Afghanistan, and to conspiracy to influence the award of subcontracts to ensure favorable treatment in the contracting process. AP
Putin urges stronger protection of Russian military secrets
President Vladimir Putin has urged Russia’s top domestic security agency to tighten its protection of information related to new weapons.
In a speech March 6 before top officials of the Federal Security Service, the top KGB successor agency, Putin said foreign spies have intensified their efforts to get access to Russia’s secrets.
Putin, a KGB veteran who headed the FSB in the 1990s before ascending to the presidency, said foreign spy agencies have intensified their operations in Russia, and are looking for political, economic and scientific secrets.
The Russian leader noted that the FSB last year exposed 129 foreign intelligence officers and 465 of their agents.
He said the FSB should pay particular attention to protecting information related to the development, test and production of new Russian weapons. AP