Afework Afework, Foreign Bribery, New York 2014

Afework Afework, a 53-year-old dual citizen of Ethiopia and Sweden, has been charged with his alleged role in a foreign bribery scheme involving the Swedish multinational telecommunications company Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson ('Ericsson' or 'the Company').

According to court documents, Afework allegedly engaged in the scheme between 2010 and January 2014. During that time, he served as the account manager for the Horn of Africa, a region that included Djibouti, while on a long-term assignment for Ericsson in Africa.

The indictment alleges that Afework participated in a scheme to bribe two high-ranking officials in Djibouti's executive branch and a high-level executive at Djibouti's state-owned telecommunications company to obtain a contract with the state-owned telecommunications company valued at approximately €20.3 million.

Afework is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted of both counts, Afework faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

'Afework allegedly used the U.S. financial system to pay bribes to high-level government officials in Djibouti to ensure that Swedish telecom giant Ericsson won a multimillion-dollar government contract,' said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department's Criminal Division.

Afework remains at large and a search is currently underway to apprehend him. The case is ongoing, and no further information is available at this time.

Ericsson entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the government in December 2019 and paid a total penalty of over $520 million. The agreement was in connection with a criminal information filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York charging the Company with conspiracies to violate the anti-bribery, books and records, and internal controls provisions of the FCPA.

Afework's alleged crimes have been exposed, and he is now charged with serious federal crimes. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the integrity of business practices and the consequences of engaging in corrupt activities.

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