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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Film Honchos Bribed Thai Gov’t for Tour Contracts

(CN) - Two Hollywood film executives were convicted of bribing a government official in Thailand with $1.8 million to get contracts, including one to run the annual Bangkok International Film Festival. Gerald Green and Patricia Green were convicted of bribery and money laundering charges in Los Angeles Federal Court.

The Greens paid $1.8 million to the former governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand to land contracts worth $13.5 million, federal prosecutors said.

The contracts allowed Gerald Green, 77, and Patricia Green, 52, to sell a "privilege card" to rich tourists, in addition to running the film festival.

"This conviction reflects the expanding enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act," Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Searby said in an interview. Searby said the Department wasn't focusing FCPA investigations on the entertainment industry, but that "anywhere we have evidence of bribery, we'll investigate."

The Greens used fake business names to deal with the Tourism Authority, to hide how much money they made from the contracts, prosecutors said. They called the bribes "sales commissions" and deposited money into accounts held by the former governor's daughter and friends.

A jury found the couple guilty of conspiracy, violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and money laundering. The jury also convicted Patricia Green of falsely subscribing a U.S. tax return.

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