A former FIFA official from Guam has pleaded guilty to charges of corruption in a New York court, the US attorney’s office said.
Richard Lai, a former member of the audit and compliance committee at the world football governing body, admitted two counts of “wire fraud conspiracy in connection with his participation in multiple schemes to accept and pay bribes to soccer officials”, according to the attorney’s office.
The 55-year-old US citizen Lai, who is president of the Guam Football Association, accepted a $100,000 bribe to vote for an official from the Asian Football Confederation in 2011.
The attorney’s office also said that between 2009-2014, Lai collected more than $850,000 of bribes for activities within the Asian region.
“Today’s plea marks another important step in our ongoing effort to root out corruption in international soccer,” acting US attorney Bridget Rohde said.
Rhode said: “The defendant abused the trust placed in him as a soccer official in order to line his own pockets, and now he will be held to account.
“The defendant’s breach of trust was particularly significant given his position as a member of the FIFA audit and compliance committee, which must play an important and independent role if corruption within FIFA is to be eliminated.”
Investigations into FIFA corruption by US and Swiss authorities are ongoing.
NAN.
Trending
- LASG Promote Environment Hygiene, Steps up Campaign to end open Defecation
- Odumeje ‘Indaboski’ is a true man of God, says Nkechi Blessing
- Workers trapped as building collapses in Kano
- NAFDAC seals bakeries, medicine stores, water factories in Plateau
- Worldwide Anglican Church gives Nigerian Bishop Adeoye new appointment
- Delta: Police arrest 2 kidnappers, recover corpses as kidnap victim escapes
- Delta CP presents over N47m to 22 deceased officers’ families
- Manage your temper, self-defence claims are for court to decide- Delta PPRO