So why was this guy put in charge of $82 million reconstruction

[laureloak]

money when a suit by a private company was already underway charging him with skimming $700,000.00 in a similiar scheme?

<snip>
"Although Stein controlled the disposition of about $82 million in U.S. funds, he was not permitted to award any contract worth more than $500,000. Several of the winning bids were just below that ceiling.

To reward the U.S. officials, Bloom allegedly would pay bribes, kickbacks or gratuities using funds from bank accounts in Iraq, Switzerland, Romania and Amsterdam. The money would be sent to Stein and his wife and to bank accounts in the United States, the affidavit said.

Stein was the comptroller and funding officer for the Coalition Provisional Authority’s south-central region. Prosecutors say Bloom, 65, paid kickbacks of more than $630,000 to Stein and others.
At one point, Bloom was paying at least $200,000 a month to Coalition Provisional Authority officials, according to an affidavit, although it does not say for how long.

<snip>


http://www.fayettevillenc.com/search.php?storyId=1042371&year=2005

[acmavm]

1. Why? He fit right in with the rest of 'em.

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