A former Common Motors supervisor was indicted with conspiracy to commit bribery after allegedly accepting $3.4 million from a world components provider.
Hyoung Nam So, 46, who goes by Brian So, was a world buying and provide chain supervisor at GM who oversaw components used to construct interiors of North American autos.
In October 2015, So promised a contract to the proprietor of a South Korean components firm in change for $5 million in money, a press launch from the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Central District of California stated final week. The indictment stated the proprietor of the corporate met So at a resort close to Detroit, in Troy, Mich., to ship $1 million to him personally.
After receiving the money, So discovered the corporate was now not the bottom bidder. On Dec. 8, 2015, So nonetheless nominated the corporate, and it was awarded the contract the identical day.
The indictment stated So didn’t inform the provider of the contract till after he obtained $2.45 million extra in money.
So left GM the following month, his on-line resume stated.
“Common Motors doesn’t tolerate or condone corruption or bribery of any variety,” the corporate stated in an announcement. “The unlawful conduct alleged right here is fully inconsistent with our code of conduct and company insurance policies.”
The automaker stated it was cooperating within the probe.
So’s lawyer, H. Dean Steward, declined to remark to the Los Angeles Instances, which reported the story final week.
The indictment stems from an investigation by the Homeland Safety Investigations’ Los Angeles El Camino Actual Monetary Crimes Process Power. The duty drive seized $3.19 million from a non-public vault in Los Altos, Calif., believed to be from the bribe.
So faces a most penalty of 5 years in jail.