Prosecutors backed up their accusations with dozens of e-mails and other documents seized from Markus' home and computers, some of which directly quote the engineer asking for money.
According to the criminal complaint:
Markus, an Egyptian-born U.S. citizen who lived in central New Jersey, fostered a relationship with Iraqi Consultants & Construction Bureau , a private company working to secure contracts in Iraq's reconstruction.
As a highly placed engineer in Tikrit, Iraq, Markus had access to confidential internal bidding information, as well as competitors' bids.
He used this information to tip off ICCB, directing its bid amounts and approving its invoices. In return, Nouri sent him hundreds of thousands of dollars through offshore accounts. That was on top of his $200,000-a-year salary from the Corps of Engineers.
(Sources: Associated Press, The Morning Call)
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