December 12 - Cargolux Airlines International has confirmed that Ulrich Ogiermann, special advisor to the company, and Robert Van de Weg, senior vice president Sales & Marketing, have entered into a plea agreement with the United States Department of Just
The agreement includes guilty pleas by both executives and follows their personal indictment by a US grand jury for alleged violations of US antitrust laws. Ogiermann and Van de Weg agreed to sentence serving of 13 months.
Cargolux itself pleaded guilty in May 2009 in similar US proceedings against the company and agreed to pay a fine of USD119 million. While expressing its regret for the executives personally, Cargolux acknowledges their decision to plead guilty as a way to finally bring this matter to a controlled close both for them and the company.
The charges against Ogiermann and Van de Weg relate to conduct they undertook on behalf of the company and do not allege that they derived any personal benefit from the activities in question.
To date, a total of 22 airlines and 21 executives have been charged in the DoJ's air cargo investigation and more than USD1.8 billion fines have been imposed, says Cargolux.
Cargolux adds that it remains fully committed to abiding by all applicable antitrust laws and regulations at all times and has taken thorough steps across the company to ensure that it conducts its business according to the highest ethical standards.
