The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday said two Norwegian shipping executives were charged in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore for their participation in a “long-running conspiracy” to rig bids and fix prices on roll-on/roll-off shipments.
Both Ingar Skiaker (pictured above) and Øyvind Ervik were formerly top executives at Höegh Autoliners AS. The Justice Department alleges that the wrongdoing by the two executives occurred between early 2006 and and September 2012.
According to the Justice Department, Skiaker, the former CEO, and Ervik agreed with shipping company competitors to illegally “fix, stabilize and maintain rates” charged to shippers for international ocean shipping services.
Höegh already pleaded guilty and was sentenced to pay a $21 million fine. In addition to Höegh, five companies also have pleaded guilty for their roles in this conspiracy, resulting in total criminal fines of more than $255 million.
The Justice Department noted that to date 13 executives have been charged in the wide-ranging antitrust investigation. Four pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison terms. Others remain international fugitives.
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