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Justice department eyes halliburton bribery allegation Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/7875628.htm http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/7875628.htm Posted on Thu, Feb. 05, 2004 U.S. Eyes Halliburton Bribery Allegation CURT ANDERSON Associated Press WASHINGTON - A subsidiary of Halliburton Co. is under scrutiny by the Justice Department over allegations that it was involved in payment of $180 million in bribes to win a natural gas project contract in Nigeria. Vice President Dick Cheney was head of Halliburton at the time. The $4 billion Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas Plant was built in the 1990s by a consortium that included Kellogg, Brown & Root, a unit of Houston-based Halliburton. Two senior Justice Department officials, speaking Wednesday on condition of anonymity, said the department had asked that Halliburton voluntarily provide documents related to the allegations. Those records, they said, could determine whether a full investigation is launched. Halliburton has complied with the request, the officials said. One factor in the Justice Department's decisions on whether to press corporate fraud charges is whether the company is cooperative. Halliburton, already under fire for its handling of contracts related to the war in Iraq, disclosed the Justice Department request in a Jan. 21 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A French magistrate, Renaud Van Ruymbeke, also is investigating the Nigerian payments. He has said in a memo that embezzlement charges could be filed against Cheney in Paris. Cheney's aides have refused comment on the allegations. Cheney spokesman Kevin Kellems said Thursday that the vice president's office had no information about the matter. "We have not been contacted about it by anyone," Kellems said. According to Halliburton's SEC filing, the illegal payment allegations involve a joint venture of which KBR was a 25 percent owner. The other partners were Technip SA of France, ENI SpA of Italy and Japan Gasoline Corp. The filing says the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission are reviewing the allegations under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The payments for the gas plant contract were allegedly made to Nigerian officials. "Halliburton has engaged outside counsel to investigate any allegations and is cooperating with the government's inquiries," the company said in the filing. "If illegal payments were made, this matter could have a material adverse effect on our business and the results of operations." Halliburton's troubles do not stop there. The Defense Department is conducting a criminal probe into the Houston-based company's contract to supply gasoline to Iraqi civilians. Last month, KBR reimbursed the Pentagon $6.3 million after disclosing that two employees had taken kickbacks from a Kuwaiti subcontractor in return for providing services to U.S. troops in Iraq. KBR also has agreed to reimburse the Pentagon more than $27 million for overcharges on meals served at military dining facilities in Iraq and Kuwait. Halliburton has complained repeatedly that criticism of its work in Iraq is politically motivated, in part because of its past ties with Cheney, the company's chairman from 1995 to 2000. ON THE NET Halliburton: http://www.halliburton.com

5 nigeria officials face bribe charges Army will pay all of halliburton bills Bush says halliburnton will refund money Cheney firm forced to drop oil bid { August 9 2003 } Company accused of stonewalling { December 19 2003 } FBI investigating halliburton contracts Five protesters arrested at halliburton meeting { May 19 2004 } French investigates into nigerian halliburton corruption Halliburton admits to nigeria bribes Halliburton bechtel win more iraq deals { August 28 2003 } Halliburton cant document 2b worth of work { August 12 2004 } Halliburton contract beyond oil fires Halliburton deals greater than thought { August 28 2003 } Halliburton defends work blames conditions { July 23 2004 } Halliburton discloses bribe nigeria Halliburton fined over accounting in 1998 { August 4 2004 } Halliburton gets big war business Halliburton has notes of nigerian bribery plan { September 3 2004 } Halliburton keeps no bid iraq pact Halliburton makes killing { March 23 2003 } Halliburton more oilfires { May 7 2003 } Halliburton overcharged 16m for military meals { February 2 2004 } Halliburton partner in nigeria faces inquiry { July 9 2004 } Halliburton pays us 6b for overcharging { January 24 2004 } Halliburton profits from iraq { July 31 2003 } Halliburton scandal { May 8 2003 } Halliburton seeks bid oil fires { March 13 2003 } Halliburton to pull out of iran { January 30 2005 } Halliburton unit fights fires { March 26 2003 } Halliburton wins iraq contract Justice department eyes halliburton bribery allegation LBJ cheney brown and root connection LBJ involved in halliburton roots Nigerian contract bribery halliburton cheney { December 20 2003 } Pentagon audit finds halliburton overcharged { December 11 2003 } Pentagon cfo significant problems halliburton cost estimates Pentagon halts more halliburton payments { May 18 2004 } Pentagon starts probe into halliburton claims { February 23 2004 } Texan assails Johnson Halliburton connection { August 2 1964 } Files Listed: 39

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