FUGITIVE former Martinair executive, who's been on the run for ten years, has been extradited to the US to face charges related to cargo price fixing.
The Dutch executive, Maria Ullings, who served as senior vice president in Martinair, had been indicted in 2010 by the US District Court in Atlanta for allegedly participating in a global conspiracy to fix air cargo prices, says the US Department of Justice (DOJ).
'A fugitive for almost 10 years, Ullings was apprehended by Italian authorities in July 2019 while visiting Sicily,' the DOJ said, adding that 'Ullings initially contested extradition in the Italian courts, but after the Court of Appeals of Palermo ruled that she be extradited, she waived her appeal'.
She is alleged to have conspired in price fixing from January 2001 to February 2006. 'Ullings conspired with others to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing and coordinating certain surcharges, including fuel surcharges, charged to customers located in the United States and elsewhere for air cargo shipments,' according to the indictment.
It adds that 22 airlines and 21 executives have been charged under the long running case against cargo price fixing in the airline industry, generating US$1.8 billion in fines and resulting in seven executives serving prison time.
In June 2008 the DOJ disclosed that Air France-KLM, Cathay Pacific, SAS Cargo, and Martinair had participated in a cargo transportation price-fixing cartel that spanned several years. The carriers were fined a collective $504 million after pleading guilty, according to media reports.
Other carriers were also caught up in the long running case, in some cases paying substantial fines.
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The Dutch executive, Maria Ullings, who served as senior vice president in Martinair, had been indicted in 2010 by the US District Court in Atlanta for allegedly participating in a global conspiracy to fix air cargo prices, says the US Department of Justice (DOJ).
'A fugitive for almost 10 years, Ullings was apprehended by Italian authorities in July 2019 while visiting Sicily,' the DOJ said, adding that 'Ullings initially contested extradition in the Italian courts, but after the Court of Appeals of Palermo ruled that she be extradited, she waived her appeal'.
She is alleged to have conspired in price fixing from January 2001 to February 2006. 'Ullings conspired with others to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing and coordinating certain surcharges, including fuel surcharges, charged to customers located in the United States and elsewhere for air cargo shipments,' according to the indictment.
It adds that 22 airlines and 21 executives have been charged under the long running case against cargo price fixing in the airline industry, generating US$1.8 billion in fines and resulting in seven executives serving prison time.
In June 2008 the DOJ disclosed that Air France-KLM, Cathay Pacific, SAS Cargo, and Martinair had participated in a cargo transportation price-fixing cartel that spanned several years. The carriers were fined a collective $504 million after pleading guilty, according to media reports.
Other carriers were also caught up in the long running case, in some cases paying substantial fines.
WORLD SHIPPING