By: Brooke Driver
Robbins & Myers Belgium S.A., a subsidiary of Myers & Robbins Inc. has agreed to pay a total of $1 million in criminal fines and to serve a term of corporate probation for four separate violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Export Administration Regulations.
Around the date of May 2006, an internal auditor of the U.S. parent company to the Belgium branch discovered that Robbins & Myers Belgium had illegally shipped stators made from U.S. steel to a Syrian customer. Although, after this discovery, the parent company informed the foreign branch of the violation and ordered that it stop these shipments, the subsidiary to do business with the Syrian customer between August and October 2006 and attempted to hide related documents from government investigators.
Under Secretary of Commerce Eric L. Hirschhorn said of the case that it:
“…shows that the United States will vigorously enforce its export laws against companies doing business with Syria, a state-sponsor of terrorism and home to one of the most brutal regimes on earth…The Department of Justice will hit companies that do business with Syria where it hurts most: the bottom line. This company will pay fines, penalties, and forfeitures more than 50 times greater than the proceeds of the sales.”
“The significant civil and criminal penalties in this case show our resolve to pursue and prosecute those who flout our export control laws. We will continue to work in concert with our partner agencies to ensure that U.S. technology stays out of the wrong hands.”