US Contract Charged in Iraqi Graft

The New York Times is reporting an American businessman has been charged with paying bribes and kickbacks to American occupation authorities in return for reconstruction contracts in Iraq. Phillip Bloom, who received up to $3.5 million in contracts, has been charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering and transportation of stolen property. The indictment also includes two officials with the Coalition Provisional Authority, the US-controlled body that ruled the country until June 2004. Indictments are expected in several other investigations of US officials and contractors. A spokesperson for the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction said: “This is the first case, but it won’t be the last.”