UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
v.
KOREAN AIR LINES CO., LTD.,
Defendant.
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Criminal No. 07-184 JDB
Filed: August 1, 2007
Violation:
Count I: 15 U.S.C. §1 (Sherman Act)
Count II: 15 U.S.C. §1 (Sherman Act)
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PLEA AGREEMENT
The United States of America and Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. ("defendant"),
a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Republic
of Korea, hereby enter into the following Plea Agreement pursuant to
Rule 11(c)(1)(C) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure ("Fed. R.
Crim. P."):
RIGHTS OF DEFENDANT
1. The defendant understands its rights:
- to be represented by an attorney;
- to be charged by Indictment;
- as a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the
Republic of Korea ("Korea"), to decline to accept service of the Summons
in this case, and to contest venue and the jurisdiction of the United
States to prosecute this case against it in the United States District
Court for the District of Columbia;
- to plead not guilty to any criminal charge brought against
it;
- to have a trial by jury, at which it would be presumed not
guilty of the charge and the United States would have to prove every
essential element of the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt
for it to be found guilty;
- to confront and cross-examine witnesses against it and to subpoena
witnesses in its defense at trial;
- to appeal its conviction if it is found guilty; and
- to appeal the imposition of sentence against it.
AGREEMENT TO PLEAD GUILTY
AND WAIVE CERTAIN RIGHTS
2. The defendant knowingly and voluntarily waives the rights set out
in Paragraph 1(b)-(g) above, including all jurisdictional defenses to
the prosecution of this case, and agrees voluntarily to consent to the
jurisdiction of the United States to prosecute this case against it
in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The
defendant also knowingly and voluntarily waives the right to file any
appeal, any collateral attack, or any other writ or motion, including
but not limited to an appeal under 18 U.S.C. § 3742, that challenges
the sentence imposed by the Court if that sentence is consistent with
or below the recommended sentence in Paragraph 8 of this Plea Agreement,
regardless of how the sentence is determined by the Court. This agreement
does not affect the rights or obligations of the United States as set
forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3742(b) and (c). Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim.
P. 7(b), the defendant will waive indictment and plead guilty at arraignment
to a two-count Information to be filed in the United States District
Court for the District of Columbia. Count One of the Information will
charge the defendant with participating in a combination and conspiracy
to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing the cargo rates charged
to customers in the United States and elsewhere for international air
shipments, from at least January 1, 2000 until at least February 14,
2006, in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1.
Count Two of the Information will charge the defendant with participating
in a combination and conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition
by fixing wholesale and passenger fares charged for flights from the
United States to Korea, from at least January 1, 2000 until at least
July 16, 2006 in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. §
1.
3. The defendant, pursuant to the terms of this Plea Agreement, will
plead guilty to the criminal charges described in Paragraph 2 above
and will make a factual admission of guilt to the Court in accordance
with Fed. R. Crim. P. 11, as set forth in Paragraph 4 below.
FACTUAL BASIS FOR OFFENSES CHARGED
4. Had this case gone to trial, the United States would have presented
evidence sufficient to prove the following facts against defendant:
- As to Count One of the Information:
- ( For purposes of Count One covered by this Plea Agreement, the
"relevant period" is that period from at least January 1, 2000, until
at least February 14, 2006. During the relevant period, the defendant
was a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Korea and
had its principal place of business in Seoul, Korea. During the relevant
period, the defendant provided international air transportation for
cargo on trans-Pacific routes to and from the United States ("air
cargo services") and employed more than 5,000 individuals. For its
air cargo services, the defendant charged its customers a price that
consisted of a base rate and, at times during the relevant period,
various surcharges and fees, such as a fuel surcharge and a security
surcharge. The base rate, surcharges, and fees charged by the defendant
to customers for air cargo services are collectively referred to herein
as the "cargo rate." During the relevant period, the defendant's sales
of air cargo services from the United States totaled at least $763.6
million.
- During the relevant period, the defendant, through its officers
and employees, including high-level personnel of the defendant, participated
in a conspiracy with one or more providers of air cargo services,
a primary purpose of which was to suppress and eliminate competition
by fixing one or more components of the cargo rates charged to customers
for certain U.S./trans-Pacific air cargo services. In furtherance
of the conspiracy, the defendant, through its officers and employees,
engaged in discussions and attended meetings with representatives
of one or more providers of air cargo services. During these discussions
and meetings, agreements were reached to fix one or more components
of the cargo rates to be charged to purchasers of certain U.S./trans-Pacific
air cargo services.
- During the relevant period, certain air cargo shipments provided
by one or more of the conspirator carriers, and aircraft necessary
to transport the air cargo shipments, as well as payments for the
air cargo shipments, traveled in interstate and foreign commerce.
Certain of the business activities of the defendant and its co-conspirators
in connection with the sale and provision of U.S./trans-Pacific air
cargo services affected by this conspiracy were within the flow of,
and substantially affected, interstate and foreign trade and commerce.
- As to Count Two of the Information:
- For purposes of Count Two covered by this Plea Agreement, the
"relevant period" is that period from at least January 1, 2000, until
at least July 16, 2006. During the relevant period, the defendant
was a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Korea.
The defendant has its principal place of business in Seoul, Korea.
During the relevant period, the defendant provided international air
transportation for passengers ("passenger transportation services"),
was engaged in the sale of passenger transportation services to passengers
and travel agents in the United States, and employed more than 5,000
individuals. For its passenger transportation services, the defendant
charged passengers who purchased tickets directly from it a fare that
consisted of both a base fare and, at times during the relevant period,
a fuel surcharge (collectively referred to herein as the "passenger
fare"). The defendant also sold "H" class passenger tickets to travel
agents in the United States, who resold the passenger tickets in the
Korean ethnic travel market in the United States. The travel agents
who bought "H" class passenger tickets from the defendant for resale
in the Korean ethnic travel market in the United States paid a discounted
passenger fare or "wholesale fare" for those tickets. During the relevant
period, the defendant's wholesale sales of "H" class passenger tickets
to travel agents for flights from the United States to Korea, from
certain U.S. cities in which both the defendant and its co-conspirator
operated, totaled at least $224.8 million.
- During the relevant period, the defendant, through its officers
and employees, including high-level personnel of the defendant, participated
in a conspiracy with another trans-Pacific passenger airline, the
primary purpose of which was to suppress and eliminate competition
by fixing certain "H" class wholesale fares and one or both components
of passenger fares on flights from the United States to Korea. In
furtherance of the conspiracy, the defendant, through its officers
and employees, engaged in discussions and attended meetings with representatives
of another trans-Pacific airline. During these discussions and meetings,
agreements were reached to fix one or both components of the passenger
fares on flights from the United States to Korea and to fix wholesale
fares on "H" class passenger tickets to the Korean ethnic travel market
in the United States from certain airports in the United States to
Korea.
- During the relevant period, passengers who bought tickets
sold by one or both of the conspirator carriers, and aircraft necessary
to transport passengers, as well as payments for the trans-Pacific
passenger transportation services, traveled in interstate and foreign
commerce. The business activities of the defendant and its co-conspirator
in connection with the sale and provision of certain trans-Pacific
passenger transportation services to passengers affected by this conspiracy
were within the flow of, and substantially affected, interstate and
foreign trade and commerce.
POSSIBLE MAXIMUM SENTENCE
5. The defendant understands that the statutory maximum penalty which
may be imposed against it upon conviction for each violation of Section
One of the Sherman Antitrust Act is a fine in an amount equal to the
greatest of:
- $100 million (15 U.S.C. § 1);
- twice the gross pecuniary gain the conspirators derived from
the crime (18 U.S.C. § 3571(c) and (d)); or
- twice the gross pecuniary loss caused to the victims of the
crime by the conspirators (18 U.S.C. § 3571(c) and
(d)).
6. In addition, the defendant understands that for each count:
- pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3561(c)(1), the Court
may impose a term of probation of at least one year, but not more
than five years;
- pursuant to §8B1.1 of the United States Sentencing Guidelines
("U.S.S.G.," "Sentencing Guidelines," or "Guidelines") or 18 U.S.C.
§ 3563(b)(2) or 3663(a)(3), the Court may order it to pay restitution
to the victims of the offense; and
- pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3013(a)(2)(B), the Court
is required to order the defendant to pay a $400 special assessment
upon conviction for the charged crime.
SENTENCING GUIDELINES
7. The defendant understands that the Sentencing Guidelines are advisory,
not mandatory, but that the Court must consider the Guidelines in effect
on the day of sentencing, along with the other factors set forth in
18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), in determining and imposing sentence. The
defendant understands that the Guidelines determinations will be made
by the Court by a preponderance of the evidence standard. The defendant
understands that although the Court is not ultimately bound to impose
a sentence within the applicable Guidelines range, its sentence must
be reasonable based upon consideration of all relevant sentencing factors
set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Pursuant to U.S.S.G. §1B1.8,
the United States agrees that self-incriminating information that the
defendant and their cooperating officers and employees provide to the
United States pursuant to this Plea Agreement will not be
used to increase the volume of affected commerce attributable to the
defendant or in determining the defendant's applicable Guidelines range,
except to the extent provided in U.S.S.G. §1B1.8(b).
SENTENCING AGREEMENT
8. Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(1)(C), the United States and
the defendant agree that the appropriate disposition of Counts One and
Two is, and agree to recommend jointly that the Court impose, a sentence
requiring the defendant to pay to the United States a criminal fine
of $300 million, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3571(d), payable in installments
as set forth below with interest accruing under 18 U.S.C. § 3612(f)(1)-(2)
("the recommended sentence"). The parties agree that there exists no
aggravating or mitigating circumstance of a kind, or to a degree, not
adequately taken into consideration by the U.S. Sentencing Commission
in formulating the Sentencing Guidelines justifying a departure pursuant
to U.S.S.G. §5K2.0. The parties agree not to seek or support any
sentence outside of the Guidelines range nor any Guidelines adjustment
for any reason that is not set forth in this Plea Agreement. The parties
further agree that the recommended sentence set forth in this Plea Agreement
is reasonable.
Guidelines Analysis
- Pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 8C2.5, the defendant's culpability
score is 8. This number is calculated by starting with 5 points, pursuant
to U.S.S.G. § 8C2.5(a); adding 5 points because the organization
has 5,000 or more employees and an individual within high-level personnel
of the organization participated in, condoned or was willfully ignorant
of the offenses, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 8C2.5(b)(1)(A); and subtracting
2 points because the defendant fully cooperated in the investigation
and clearly demonstrated recognition and affirmative acceptance of
responsibility for its criminal conduct, pursuant to U.S.S.G. §
8C2.5(g)(2). Accordingly, the minimum multiplier to be applied to
the base fine is 1.6 and the maximum multiplier is 3.2, pursuant to
U.S.S.G. § 8C2.6.
- The base fine is 20% of the volume of commerce, pursuant to U.S.S.G.
§ 2R1.1(d)(1) and § 8C2.4(a) and (b). The parties agree
that the affected volume of commerce attributable to the defendant
for Count One is $763.6 million and for Count Two, adjusted to reflect
information provided to the United States pursuant to U.S.S.G. §
1B1.8, is $224.8 million. Pursuant to U.S.S.G. §§3D1.2(d),
3D1.3(b) and 8C2.3(b), the two Counts are grouped, and the base fine
for relevant air cargo shipments and passenger flights from the United
States is $197.7 million (20% of $988.4 million). Applying the multipliers
of 1.6 and 3.2 to this amount, the fine range for the relevant air
cargo shipments and passenger flights from the United States is between
$316.3 million and $632.6 million.
- The volume of affected commerce calculation in paragraph 7(b) above
does not include commerce related to the defendant's cargo shipments
on routes into the United States. The defendant takes the position
that any agreements reached with competitors with respect to cargo
shipments on routes into the United States should not be included
in the defendant's volume of affected commerce calculation pursuant
to U.S.S.G. § 2R1.1(d)(1). The United States disputes the defendant's
position and contends that the defendant's cargo shipments on routes
into the United States during the charged conspiracy period for Count
One violated the U.S. antitrust laws. Moreover, the United States
asserts that a Guidelines fine calculation that fails to account for
cargo shipments into the United States affected by the conspiracy
charged in Count One would understate the seriousness of, and the
harm caused to U.S. victims by, the offense and would not provide
just punishment.
- The parties recognize the complexity of litigating the issues set
forth in Paragraph 8(c) and the resulting burden on judicial and party
resources, and agree that the appropriate resolution of this issue
is to apply the defendant's discount for early cooperation and substantial
assistance to a point above the bottom of the Guidelines sentencing
range. On that basis, and subject to the full and continuing cooperation
of the defendant, as described in Paragraph 12 below, and prior to
sentencing in this case, the United States agrees that it will make
a motion, pursuant to U.S.S.G. §8C4.1, for a downward departure
from the Guidelines fine range of $316.3 million to $632.6 million
and request that the Court impose a fine of $300 million, payable
as set forth in Paragraph 8(e) below, because of the defendant's substantial
assistance in the government's investigation and prosecutions of violations
of federal criminal law in the air transportation industry.
- The United States and the defendant agree to recommend, in the
interest of justice pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3572(d)(1) and U.S.S.G.
§8C3.2(b), that the fine be paid in the following installments:
within thirty (30) days of imposition of sentence -- $50 million (plus
any accrued interest); at the one-year anniversary of imposition of
sentence ("anniversary") -- $50 million (plus any accrued interest);
at the two-year anniversary -- $50 million (plus any accrued interest);
at the three-year anniversary -- $50 million (plus any accrued interest);
at the four-year anniversary -- $50 million (plus any accrued interest);
and at the five-year anniversary -- $50 million (plus any accrued
interest); provided, however, that the defendant shall have the option
at any time before the five-year anniversary of prepaying the remaining
balance (plus any accrued interest) then owing on the fine.
- The defendant understands that the Court will order it to pay a
$400 special assessment per count, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3013(a)(2)(B),
in addition to any fine imposed.
- Based on the defendant's substantial assistance and improvements
in its corporate compliance program, both parties will recommend that
no term of probation be imposed, but the defendant understands that
the Court's denial of this request will not void this Plea Agreement.
- The United States and the defendant jointly submit that this Plea
Agreement, together with the record that will be created by the United
States and the defendant at the plea and sentencing hearings, and
the further disclosure described in Paragraph 9, will provide sufficient
information concerning the defendant, the crimes charged in this case,
and the defendant's role in the crimes to enable the meaningful exercise
of sentencing authority by the Court under 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The United States and defendant agree to request jointly that the
Court accept the defendant's guilty pleas and impose sentence on an
expedited schedule as early as the date of arraignment, based upon
the record provided by the defendant and the United States, under
the provisions of Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(c)(1)(A)(ii) and U.S.S.G. §6A1.1.
The Court's denial of the request to impose sentence on an expedited
schedule will not void this Plea Agreement.
- The United States contends that had this case gone to trial, the
United States would have presented evidence to prove that the gain
derived from or the loss resulting from the charged offenses is sufficient
to justify the recommended sentence set forth in this paragraph, pursuant
to 18 U.S.C. § 3571(d). For purposes of these pleas and sentencing
only, the defendant waives its rights to contest this calculation.
9. Subject to the ongoing, full, and truthful cooperation of the defendant
described in Paragraph 12 of this Plea Agreement, and before sentencing
in the case, the United States will fully advise the Court and the Probation
Office of the fact, manner, and extent of the defendant's cooperation
and its commitment to prospective cooperation with the United States'
investigation and prosecutions, all material facts relating to the defendant's
involvement in the charged offense, and all other relevant conduct.
10. The United States and the defendant understand that the Court
retains complete discretion to accept or reject the recommended sentence
provided for in Paragraph 8 of this Plea Agreement.
- If the Court does not accept the recommended sentence, the United
States and the defendant agree that this Plea Agreement, except for
Paragraph 10(b) below, shall be rendered void.
- If the Court does not accept the recommended sentence, the defendant
will be free to withdraw its guilty pleas (Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(5)
and (d)). If the defendant withdraws its pleas of guilty, this Plea
Agreement, the guilty pleas, and any statement made in the course
of any proceedings under Fed. R. Crim. P. 11 regarding the guilty
pleas or this Plea Agreement or made in the course of plea discussions
with an attorney for the government shall not be admissible against
the defendant in any criminal or civil proceeding, except as otherwise
provided in Fed. R. Evid. 410. In addition, the defendant agrees that,
if it withdraws its guilty pleas pursuant to this subparagraph of
the Plea Agreement, the statute of limitations period for any offense
referred to in Paragraph 14 of this Plea Agreement shall be tolled
for the period between the date of the signing of the Plea Agreement
and the date the defendant withdrew its guilty pleas or for a period
of sixty (60) days after the date of the signing of the Plea Agreement,
whichever period is greater.
11. In light of pending civil class action lawsuits filed against
the defendant, which potentially provide for a recovery of a multiple
of actual damages, the United States agrees that it will not seek a
restitution order for the offenses charged in the Information.
DEFENDANT'S COOPERATION
12. The defendant and its subsidiaries will cooperate fully and truthfully
with the United States in the prosecution of this case, the conduct
of the current federal investigation of violations of federal antitrust
and related criminal laws involving the sale of international air cargo
transportation services and/or passenger transportation services, any
other federal investigation resulting therefrom, and any litigation
or other proceedings arising or resulting from any such investigation
to which the United States is a party ("Federal Proceeding"). The ongoing,
full, and truthful cooperation of the defendant and its subsidiaries
shall include, but not be limited to:
- producing to the United States all non-privileged documents, information,
and other materials (with translations into English), wherever located,
in the possession, custody, or control of the defendant or any of
its subsidiaries, requested by the United States in connection with
any Federal Proceeding; and
- using its best efforts to secure the ongoing, full, and truthful
cooperation, as defined in Paragraph 13 of this Plea Agreement, of
the current and former directors, officers, and employees of the defendant
or any of its subsidiaries as may be requested by the United States
but excluding J.D. Cha, J.W. Kim, J.J. Choi, H.S. Kim, T.S.
Suk, K.C. Oh, and Bernard Akle including making these persons
available in the United States and at other mutually agreed-upon locations,
at the defendant's expense, for interviews and the provision of testimony
in grand jury, trial, and other judicial proceedings in connection
with any Federal Proceeding.
13. The ongoing, full, and truthful cooperation of each person described
in Paragraph 12(b) above will be subject to the procedures and protections
of this paragraph, and shall include, but not be limited to:
- producing in the United States and at other mutually agreed-upon
locations all non-privileged documents, including claimed personal
documents, and other materials, wherever located, requested by attorneys
and agents of the United States in connection with any Federal Proceeding;
- making himself or herself available for interviews in the United
States and at other mutually agreed-upon locations, not at the expense
of the United States, upon the request of attorneys and agents of
the United States;
- responding fully and truthfully to all inquiries of the United
States in connection with any Federal Proceeding, without falsely
implicating any person or intentionally withholding any information,
subject to the penalties of making false statements (18 U.S.C. §
1001) and obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503, et seq.);
- otherwise voluntarily providing the United States with any non-privileged
material or information not requested in (a) - (c) of this paragraph
that he or she may have that is related to any Federal Proceeding;
- when called upon to do so by the United States in connection with
any Federal Proceeding, testifying in grand jury, trial, and other
judicial proceedings in the United States fully, truthfully, and under
oath, subject to the penalties of perjury (18 U.S.C. § 1621),
making false statements or declarations in grand jury or court proceedings
(18 U.S.C. § 1623), contempt (18 U.S.C. §§ 401-402),
and obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503, et seq.);
and
- agreeing that, if the agreement not to prosecute him or her in
this Plea Agreement is rendered void under Paragraph 15(c), the statute
of limitations period for any Relevant Offense as defined in Paragraph
15(a) shall be tolled as to him or her for the period between the
date of the signing of this Plea Agreement and six (6) months after
the date that the United States gave notice of its intent to void
its obligations to that person under the Plea Agreement.
GOVERNMENT'S AGREEMENT
14. Upon acceptance of the guilty pleas called for by this Plea Agreement
and the imposition of the recommended sentence, and subject to the cooperation
requirements of Paragraph 12 of this Plea Agreement, the United States
agrees that it will not bring further criminal charges against the defendant
or any of its subsidiaries for any act or offense committed before the
date of this Plea Agreement that was undertaken in furtherance of an
antitrust conspiracy involving the sale of international air cargo transportation
services and/or passenger transportation services. The nonprosecution
terms of this paragraph do not apply to civil matters of any kind, to
any violation of the federal tax or securities laws, or to any crime
of violence.
15. The United States agrees to the following:
- Upon the Court's acceptance of the guilty pleas called for by this
Plea Agreement and the imposition of the recommended sentence and
subject to the exceptions noted in Paragraph 15(c), the United
States will not bring criminal charges against any current or former
director, officer, or employee of the defendant or its subsidiaries
for any act or offense committed before the date of this Plea Agreement
and while that person was acting as a director, officer, or employee
of the defendant or its subsidiaries that was undertaken in furtherance
of an antitrust conspiracy involving the sale of international air
cargo transportation services and/or passenger transportation services
("Relevant Offense"), except that the protections granted in this
paragraph shall not apply to J.D. Cha, J.W. Kim, J.J. Choi, H.S. Kim,
T.S. Suk, K.C. Oh, and Bernard Akle;
- Should the United States determine that any current or former director,
officer, or employee of the defendant or its subsidiaries may have
information relevant to any Federal Proceeding, the United States
may request that person's cooperation under the terms of this Plea
Agreement by written request delivered to counsel for the individual
(with a copy to the undersigned counsel for the defendant) or, if
the individual is not known by the United States to be represented,
to the undersigned counsel for the defendant;
- If any person requested to provide cooperation under Paragraph
15(b) fails to comply with his or her obligations under Paragraph
13, then the terms of this Plea Agreement as they pertain to that
person, and the agreement not to prosecute that person granted in
this Plea Agreement, shall be rendered void;
- Except as provided in Paragraph 15(e), information provided by
a person described in Paragraph 15(b) to the United States under the
terms of this Plea Agreement pertaining to any Relevant Offense, or
any information directly or indirectly derived from that information,
may not be used against that person in a criminal case, except in
a prosecution for perjury (18 U.S.C. § 1621), making a false
statement or declaration (18 U.S.C. §§ 1001, 1623),
or obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503, et seq.);
- If any person who provides information to the United States under
this Plea Agreement fails to comply fully with his or her obligations
under Paragraph 13 of this Plea Agreement, the agreement in Paragraph
15(d) not to use that information or any information directly or indirectly
derived from it against that person in a criminal case shall be rendered
void;
- The nonprosecution terms of this paragraph do not apply to civil
matters of any kind, to any violation of the federal tax or securities
laws, or to any crime of violence; and
- Documents provided under Paragraphs 12(a) and 13(a) shall be deemed
responsive to outstanding grand jury subpoenas issued to the defendant
or any of its subsidiaries.
16. The United States agrees that when any person travels to the United
States for interviews, grand jury appearances, or court appearances
pursuant to this Plea Agreement, or for meetings with counsel in preparation
therefor, the United States will take no action, based upon any Relevant
Offense, to subject such person to arrest, detention, or service of
process, or to prevent such person from departing the United States.
This paragraph does not apply to an individual's commission of perjury
(18 U.S.C. § 1621), making false statements (18 U.S.C. §
1001), making false statements or declarations in grand jury or court
proceedings (18 U.S.C. § 1623), obstruction of justice (18
U.S.C. § 1503, et seq.), or contempt (18 U.S.C. §§
401-402) in connection with any testimony or information provided or
requested in any Federal Proceeding.
17. The defendant understands that it may be subject to administrative
action by federal or state agencies other than the United States Department
of Justice, Antitrust Division, based upon the convictions resulting
from this Plea Agreement, and that this Plea Agreement in no way controls
whatever action, if any, other agencies may take. However, the United
States agrees that, if requested, it will advise the appropriate officials
of any governmental agency considering such administrative action of
the fact, manner, and extent of the cooperation of the defendant and
its subsidiaries as a matter for that agency to consider before determining
what administrative action, if any, to take.
REPRESENTATION BY COUNSEL
18. The defendant has been represented by counsel and is fully satisfied
that its attorneys have provided competent legal representation. The
defendant has thoroughly reviewed this Plea Agreement and acknowledges
that counsel has advised it of the nature of the charges, any possible
defenses to the charges, and the nature and range of possible sentences.
VOLUNTARY PLEA
19. The defendant's decision to enter into this Plea Agreement and
to tender pleas of guilty is freely and voluntarily made and is not
the result of force, threats, assurances, promises, or representations
other than the representations contained in this Plea Agreement. The
United States has made no promises or representations to the defendant
as to whether the Court will accept or reject the recommendations contained
within this Plea Agreement.
VIOLATION OF PLEA AGREEMENT
20. The defendant agrees that, should the United States determine
in good faith, during the period that any Federal Proceeding is pending,
that the defendant or any of its subsidiaries have failed to provide
full and truthful cooperation, as described in Paragraph 12 of this
Plea Agreement, or has otherwise violated any provision of this Plea
Agreement, the United States will notify counsel for the defendant in
writing by personal or overnight delivery or facsimile transmission
and may also notify counsel by telephone of its intention to void any
of its obligations under this Plea Agreement (except its obligations
under this paragraph), and the defendant and its subsidiaries shall
be subject to prosecution for any federal crime of which the United
States has knowledge including, but not limited to, the substantive
offenses relating to the investigation resulting in this Plea Agreement.
The defendant and its subsidiaries agree that, in the event that the
United States is released from its obligations under this Plea Agreement
and brings criminal charges against the defendant or its subsidiaries
for any offense referred to in Paragraph 14 of this Plea Agreement,
the statute of limitations period for such offense shall be tolled for
the period between the date of the signing of this Plea Agreement and
six (6) months after the date the United States gave notice of its intent
to void its obligations under this Plea Agreement.
21. The defendant understands and agrees that in any further prosecution
of it or its subsidiaries resulting from the release of the United States
from its obligations under this Plea Agreement, because of the defendant's
or its subsidiaries' violation of the Plea Agreement, any documents,
statements, information, testimony, or evidence provided by it, its
subsidiaries, or current or former directors, officers, or employees
of it or its subsidiaries to attorneys or agents of the United States,
federal grand juries, or courts, and any leads derived therefrom, may
be used against it or its subsidiaries in any such further prosecution.
In addition, the defendant unconditionally waives its right to challenge
the use of such evidence in any such further prosecution, notwithstanding
the protections of Fed. R. Evid. 410.
ENTIRETY OF AGREEMENT
22. This Plea Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the
United States and the defendant concerning the disposition of the criminal
charges in this case. This Plea Agreement cannot be modified except
in writing, signed by the United States and the defendant.
23. The undersigned is authorized to enter this Plea Agreement on
behalf of the defendant as evidenced by the Resolution of the Board
of Directors of the defendant attached to, and incorporated by reference
in, this Plea Agreement.
24. The undersigned attorneys for the United States have been authorized
by the Attorney General of the United States to enter this Plea Agreement
on behalf of the United States.
25. A facsimile signature shall be deemed an original signature for
the purpose of executing this Plea Agreement. Multiple signature pages
are authorized for the purpose of executing this Plea Agreement.
DATED:___August 1st, 2007____________
BY:______________/s/______________
KOREAN AIR LINES CO., LTD.
By: Kyung H. Chang
Its: Executive Vice President
Corporate Strategy & Planning Div.
BY:______________/s/______________
Nathan J. Andrisani
John Hemann
Willard K. Tom
Counsel for Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd.
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BY:______________/s/______________
Mark R. Rosman, Assistant Chief
Brent Snyder, Trial Attorney
Mark C. Grundvig, Trial Attorney
Kathryn M. Hellings, Trial Attorney
Elizabeth Aloi, Trial Attorney
U.S. Department of Justice
Antitrust Division
1401 H Street, N.W.
Suite 3700
Washington, D.C. 20530
Tel.: (202) 307-6694
Fax: (202) 514-6525 |
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