'Fat Leonard': US Marshals offer US$40,000 reward for info on M'sian fugitive

SAN DIEGO (AP): The United States government posted a US$40,000 (RM180,000) reward on Friday (Sept 9) for information leading to the arrest of the Malaysian defense contractor nicknamed "Fat Leonard," who disappeared weeks before he was set to be sentenced for one of the largest bribery scandals in the nation’s military history.

Leonard Glenn Francis cut off his ankle monitoring bracelet at around 7:35am Sunday (Sept 4) at a San Diego home where he was being held, according to the US Marshals Service.

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Neighbours reported seeing U-Haul trucks coming and going from the home days before he disappeared.

Francis had been allowed to remain in home confinement to receive medical care while he cooperated with the prosecution. With his help, prosecutors secured convictions of 33 of 34 defendants, including more than two dozen Navy officers.

ALSO READ: Task force set up to hunt for 'Fat Leonard'

Francis pleaded guilty in 2015 to offering prostitution services, luxury hotels, cigars, gourmet meals and more than US$500,000 (RM2.25mil) in bribes to Navy officials and others to help his Singapore-based ship servicing company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd. or GDMA. Prosecutors said the company overcharged the Navy by at least US$35mil (RM157.4mil) for servicing ships, many of which were routed to ports he controlled in the Pacific.

ALSO READ: I can move Navy ships like paper ships, claims Fat Leonard

Ten US agencies are searching for Francis. US authorities also issued a red notice, which asks law enforcement worldwide to provisionally arrest someone with the possibility of extradition.

Malaysia and Sinapore both have extradition agreements with the United States. - AP

The United States Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $40,000 for information leading up to the arrest of Leonard Francis. Also known as "Fat Leonard" Francis is wanted for violating the conditions of his pretrial release. He was convicted of bribing naval officials. pic.twitter.com/gVmFrBYkb6 — USMS San Diego (@USMSSanDiego) September 10, 2022