Terror charges against Chiquita dropped
Terror charges against Chiquita dropped
The U.S. Department of Justice will not prosecute 10 executives at Cincinnati- based Chiquita Brands International who were involved in a payoff of Colombian terrorists, according to Associated Press reports.
The decision was part of a sentencing memo that urged U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth to fine Chiquita $25 million and have the company serve five years probation. The sentencing hearing is set for Sept. 17. If accepted, the fine would mark the largest criminal penalty ever imposed under U.S. global terrorism sanctions laws.
In a statement, Chiquita Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Fernando Aguirre said that the company was pleased with the decision. "We believe this is the right decision and one that reflects the good faith efforts of the company -- and its officers, directors and employees -- to address a very difficult situation involving the lives and safety of our employees."
Prosecutors dropped potential charges against the executives -- most of who have not been publicly identified -- "based solely on the merits and the evidence" against them, Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd said in a statement. "The government gave serious consideration to bringing additional charges in this matter, but in the exercise of its prosecutorial discretion, has decided not to do so after an extensive investigation and after considering critical evidence and information that Chiquita provided."
Chiquita voluntarily alerted the Justice Department in April 2003 of the deals, which by that time had been going on for 15 years. The company admitted to paying about $1.7 million between 1997 and 2004 to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, also known as AUC.
The AUC has been responsible for some of the worst massacres in Colombia's civil conflict and for a sizable percentage of the country's cocaine exports. The U.S. government designated it a terrorist group in September 2001. Additionally, Chiquita made payments to the National Liberation Army and the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia as control of the company's banana-growing area shifted.
Chiquita has said it was forced to make the payments and was acting only to ensure the safety of its workers.
The decision was part of a sentencing memo that urged U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth to fine Chiquita $25 million and have the company serve five years probation. The sentencing hearing is set for Sept. 17. If accepted, the fine would mark the largest criminal penalty ever imposed under U.S. global terrorism sanctions laws.
In a statement, Chiquita Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Fernando Aguirre said that the company was pleased with the decision. "We believe this is the right decision and one that reflects the good faith efforts of the company -- and its officers, directors and employees -- to address a very difficult situation involving the lives and safety of our employees."
Prosecutors dropped potential charges against the executives -- most of who have not been publicly identified -- "based solely on the merits and the evidence" against them, Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd said in a statement. "The government gave serious consideration to bringing additional charges in this matter, but in the exercise of its prosecutorial discretion, has decided not to do so after an extensive investigation and after considering critical evidence and information that Chiquita provided."
Chiquita voluntarily alerted the Justice Department in April 2003 of the deals, which by that time had been going on for 15 years. The company admitted to paying about $1.7 million between 1997 and 2004 to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, also known as AUC.
The AUC has been responsible for some of the worst massacres in Colombia's civil conflict and for a sizable percentage of the country's cocaine exports. The U.S. government designated it a terrorist group in September 2001. Additionally, Chiquita made payments to the National Liberation Army and the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia as control of the company's banana-growing area shifted.
Chiquita has said it was forced to make the payments and was acting only to ensure the safety of its workers.
