April 19, 2011
Johnson and Johnson has agreed to pay $70 million, following allegations that subsidiaries of the company used improper bribes in foreign countries, including payments to Saddam Hussein, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Policies Act.
The deferred prosecution agreement with the Department of Justice also requires that the company take additional measures to prevent future transgressions. If the standards are met for 3 years, further criminal penalties may be avoided.
The company’s bribery scheme had involved illegal payments to government officials in Greece, Poland, and Romania, among other recipients. According to the SEC, the scheme netted more than $32 million in business.