Apple Supply manager Paul Shin Devine was arrested by US authorities after an FBI and IRS investigation into money laundering.
The mid-level manager allegedly recieved kickbacks from six accessory suppliers in exchange for confidential information that helped them to secure Apple contracts.
The story, reported by the http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_15773966?nclick_check=1">San Jose Mercury News and Engadget, says “The alleged scheme used an elaborate chain of U.S. and foreign bank accounts and one front company to receive payments…code words like ‘sample’ were used to refer to the payments so that Apple co-workers wouldn’t become suspicious.”
There’s no word as to exactly what confidential information was passed but Apple has filed its own civil lawsuit against Devine, saying he accepted over US$1 million in “payments, kickbacks and bribes”.
A spokesperson for Apple said “Apple is committed to the highest ethical standards in the way we do business, we have zero tolerance for dishonest behavior inside or outside the company.”
The alleged scheme used an elaborate chain of U.S. and foreign bank accounts and one front company to receive payments, the indictment said, and code words like “sample” were used to refer to the payments so that Apple co-workers wouldn’t become suspicious.
Devine, 37, is apparently being held by the U.S. Marshals Service, according to the IRS. The IRS have declined to comment.
Apple has worked hard in recent years to maintain the high-quality of its corporate and public image, even going so far as to whistle-blow on their own investigation into poor pay and conditions for workers in Apple factories in the far-east.
http://www.windows7news.com/2010/08/14/bad-apple-manager-arrested-fbi-probe/
Me: Well, since I haven't been able to comment on threads (and only make them) since VGChartz 3.0... Eh, nevermind that (but still)... So does anyone think they will trust Apple after this?
