Samir Vincent
Encyclopedia
Samir Vincent also known as Samir Ambrose Vincent (born October 23, 1940) is an Iraqi American that pleaded guilty in January 2005 to being an illegal agent for Saddam Hussein's government and helping to skim money from the Oil-for-Food Programme
which earned him millions of dollars in the process.
was set up to allow Iraq to sell its oil in return for humanitarian relief, so it would not breach sanctions imposed after the first Iraq war. However it transpired that the former Iraqi regime - which decided who could buy Iraqi oil - used the scheme to bribe people by awarding them contracts in return for a surcharge.
Vincent eventually admitted to charges of fraud, tax violations and acting and conspiring to act as an unregistered agent of the Iraqi government.
in Tokyo
, Japan
. He took part in the 110 and 400 meter Hurdles, the Triple Jump and 4 x 100 metre Relay.
Oil-for-Food Programme
The Oil-for-Food Programme , established by the United Nations in 1995 was established with the stated intent to allow Iraq to sell oil on the world market in exchange for food, medicine, and other humanitarian needs for ordinary Iraqi citizens without allowing Iraq to boost its military...
which earned him millions of dollars in the process.
Oil-for-Food Programme Scandal
In the aftermath of the Gulf War, the U.N. imposed sanctions on Iraq. As an unregistered agent for the Iraqi government, Vincent began lobbying in the U.S. for an end to the U.N. sanctions on the sale of Iraqi oil. Vincent remained largely unsuccessful in his efforts until 1992 when he was introduced to Tongsun Park, who arranged for him to meet Boutros Boutros-Ghali, then the secretary-general of the United Nations. The Oil-for-Food ProgrammeOil-for-Food Programme
The Oil-for-Food Programme , established by the United Nations in 1995 was established with the stated intent to allow Iraq to sell oil on the world market in exchange for food, medicine, and other humanitarian needs for ordinary Iraqi citizens without allowing Iraq to boost its military...
was set up to allow Iraq to sell its oil in return for humanitarian relief, so it would not breach sanctions imposed after the first Iraq war. However it transpired that the former Iraqi regime - which decided who could buy Iraqi oil - used the scheme to bribe people by awarding them contracts in return for a surcharge.
Vincent eventually admitted to charges of fraud, tax violations and acting and conspiring to act as an unregistered agent of the Iraqi government.
1964 Summer Olympics
Vincent was also a competitor in the 1964 Summer Olympics1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He took part in the 110 and 400 meter Hurdles, the Triple Jump and 4 x 100 metre Relay.