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Midlevel Apple Exec Took $1,000,000 in Kickbacks

By - Source: Tom's Hardware US

An Apple executive is accused of taking more than $1 million in kickbacks from the company's Asian partners.

Paul Shin Devine, a global supply manager at Apple, has been arrested on suspicion of taking over a million dollars in kickbacks from six Asian suppliers of iPhone and iPod accessories, the Mercury News reports. Also named in the case is Andrew Ang of Singapore.

Devine is said to have used his position as a midlevel executive at Apple to gain access to confidential information. Devin would then sell this information on to Ang and other suppliers, allowing them to negotiate better contracts with Apple. Mercury News reports that the payments were received via numerous U.S. and foreign bank accounts and a front company, and shared with Ang.

The 37-year-old is being held by the U.S. Marshals Service and will appear in the U.S. Northern District Court in San Jose at 1:30 p.m. today.

An Apple spokesperson reaffirmed the Cupertino-based company's zero-tolerance policy for dishonest business practices.

"Apple is committed to the highest ethical standards in the way we do business," Apple's Steve Dowling said. "We have zero tolerance for dishonest behavior inside or outside the company."

Read the full story here.

There are 46 Comments.
Top Comments
  • 21
    jomofro39 , August 17, 2010 1:26 AM
    "Apple is committed to the highest ethical standards in the way we do business," Apple's Steve Dowling said. "We have zero tolerance for dishonest behavior inside or outside the company."
    He is lying wrong. The public's reception of his statement is dropping.
  • 23
    coopchennick , August 17, 2010 1:31 AM
    a greedy guy at apple???
  • 13
    Trashit , August 17, 2010 1:34 AM
    Whoa hey now, hold the phone there Steve. So you're saying that Apple's product pricing is just good ol' honest business and their EULA is perfectly ethical?! Sounds to me like this mid level CEO has earned his gold star, maybe even a promotion is in order? :p 
  • 10
    nforce4max , August 17, 2010 1:35 AM
    Just like congress and every thing else all bought & bribed out.
  • 23
    wmalinowski , August 17, 2010 1:51 AM
    "An Apple spokesperson reaffirmed the Cupertino-based company's zero-tolerance policy for dishonest business practices."


    Like charging $99 for replacing ipod battery?!?!?!?
  • 12
    tacoslave , August 17, 2010 1:52 AM
    looks like steve jobs doesnt like other people f*cking HIM over.
  • 29
    mykem , August 17, 2010 1:53 AM
    The rapist cost of their computers is dishonest. The anti-competition clause that states that their OS can only be run on an Apple-made computer is dishonest. Their censoring of dissident comments on their web site is dishonest and unethical. Their singling out Adobe and shutting out Flash is dishonest. Their marketing giving the image that they own more than 4% of the market is dishonest. The perceived security of their OS is dishonest. The treatment of their employees at home and outsourced (Foxconn) is unethical. Steve Dowling is drinking some serious denial kool-aid, much like the typical Apple customer.
  • 20
    ares1214 , August 17, 2010 2:06 AM
    Wait, shouldnt this guy be getting promoted? Hes following the Apple handbook he got while he was an intern.

    Rule 1: Steal from the poor and abuse the innocent to make a profit
    Rule 2: In the event you get caught, lie your way out of it
    Rule 3: Dont get TOO greedy, I mean we are already paying you a few billion $ a year from all the over pricing we do on our products!
  • 16
    ecnovaec , August 17, 2010 2:32 AM
    hahaha "Apple is committed to the highest ethical standards in the way we do business" I'm seriously crying for laughing so hard at this line!!!
Other Comments
  • 29
    mykem , August 17, 2010 1:53 AM
    The rapist cost of their computers is dishonest. The anti-competition clause that states that their OS can only be run on an Apple-made computer is dishonest. Their censoring of dissident comments on their web site is dishonest and unethical. Their singling out Adobe and shutting out Flash is dishonest. Their marketing giving the image that they own more than 4% of the market is dishonest. The perceived security of their OS is dishonest. The treatment of their employees at home and outsourced (Foxconn) is unethical. Steve Dowling is drinking some serious denial kool-aid, much like the typical Apple customer.
  • 23
    wmalinowski , August 17, 2010 1:51 AM
    "An Apple spokesperson reaffirmed the Cupertino-based company's zero-tolerance policy for dishonest business practices."


    Like charging $99 for replacing ipod battery?!?!?!?
  • 23
    coopchennick , August 17, 2010 1:31 AM
    a greedy guy at apple???
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