Ex-Mitsubishi executives confess to bribing Thai port officials
PHOTO: Nikkei Asian Review
Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems former executives, 63 year old Fuyuhiko Nishikida and 57 year old Yoshiki Tsuji, have confessed to bribing a Thai public servant to ensure smooth treatment of cargo through a southern port of Thailand.
This follows the scandal surrounding the construction of a power plant in Thailand in 2013 and allegations made towards the executives in July of this year. Resulting in Mitsubishi striking a plea bargain due to bribery allegations.
Conspiring with 64 year old Satoshi Uchida, who had managed the power plant project, Nishikida, who was in charge of materials procurement, and Tsuji (his subordinate) allegedly paid 11 million baht ($338,000) in February 2015 to a senior official of the Transport Ministry in Thailand to receive ‘favorable treatment’ in unloading cargo for the local power plant project, instead of initial reports in July of a 20 million baht bribe.
After senior officials at the ministry port asked for a bribe, both Nishikida and Tsuji claim they went to Uchida for advice, who accepted the request. Delays that would incur if the bribe was not paid could have resulted in up to 6 million yen in damages (around 1.75 million baht).
The plea bargaining system was introduced to Japan in June and saw Mitsubishi enter in a plea deal that same month, with indictment exceptions in exchange for cooperation during the investigation and trial.
Uchida’s first hearing will take place on January 11.
SOURCE: The Nation
