Government sides with whistleblower's effort to extract $350M from Consulate

The ongoing saga of a nine-figure False Claims Act case took another turn late last week, with the Department of Justice criticizing a federal judge who tossed out a verdict against the provider.

The case involves whistleblower Angela Ruckh, a one-time employee of Consulate Health Care, who accused the company of overcharging Medicare and Medicaid by inflating therapy claims. In January, a Florida federal judge tossed the original $348 million False Claims Act verdict against the operator out. At the time, U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday said there wasn't sufficient evidence that the government would have withheld payment for those claims, if it was aware of the billing violations.

Ruckh, who stands to earn a $50 million share of the payout, subsequently appealed that verdict. read more »

Malaysia Seeks to Complete a $10 Billion Project Rocked by Scandal

With its reflective blue glass facade and 12-story clear glass crown, the 1,615-foot Exchange 106 tower is meant to make a commanding statement about this fast-growing capital’s readiness to be regarded among the world’s great cities.

The four-million-square-foot office and retail skyscraper, expected to be completed before the end of the year, is the centerpiece of the $10 billion Tun Razak Exchange, an office, retail and residential development sponsored by former Prime Minister Najib Razak to turn 70 acres of the central business district into a new global finance center.

Among the world’s 15 tallest buildings, the tower stands 133 feet higher than the Petronas Twin Towers, which have been landmarks on the Kuala Lumpur skyline since they were opened in 1998.

But the building’s significance has been overshadowed by charges of government corruption, embezzlement and money laundering.

On May 9, Malaysians elected lawmakers to Parliament from the Pakatan Harapan opposition coalition. Their leader, Mahathir Mohamad, a reform candidate and former prime minister, replaced Mr. Najib and his ruling Barisan Nasional party. read more »

Ex-state official pleads guilty in $1M kickback scheme

The former chief information technology officer for a New York government agency has pleaded guilty to a contract kickback scheme that predated his state employment.

Federal prosecutors say between January 2011 and April 2013, Mark Berger took $985,000 in cash bribes from two New Jersey IT firms in exchange for contracts with a Texas-based financial services company where he was CIO. The money was delivered to Berger's home in Roslyn on Long Island.

The 58-year-old Berger was hired in October 2013 as chief IT officer at the state Department of Financial Services. He was fired from his $157,000-a-year job in August 2016. read more »