Singaporean linked with Apple executive on kickback charge

Paul Shin Devine was accused of accepting kickbacks while Singaporean charged with wire fraud and conspiracy.

A manager at Apple Inc has been charged in California with taking kickbacks he received after leaking corporate secrets to Asian companies that supplied iPhone and iPod accessories, court documents showed.

Paul Shin Devine, a global supply manager at technology company Apple since 2005, was accused by federal authorities of accepting kickbacks from six Asian companies. Authorities did not name the companies but said they were located in South Korea, China, Taiwan and Singapore.

Devine, 37, also faces a civil suit filed by Cupertino, California-based Apple, which accused him of receiving more than $1 million in payments and bribes over several years, the San Jose Mercury News reported.

Devine allegedly used his position at Apple to obtain confidential information that he shared with Apple suppliers to help them negotiate favorable contracts with the company, according to the indictment.

In return, the suppliers paid Devine kickbacks, which he allegedly shared with Andrew Ang of Singapore. Ang was charged with three counts of wire fraud and conspiracy.

View the full story in Reuters.