Former DePuy Executive Charged With Corruption

Robert John Dougall, a past vice president at DePuy International, a division of Johnson & Johnson, has been charged with conspiracy to corrupt involving alleged improper payments to Greek officials, according to the Serious Fraud Office in the United Kingdom. He was released on bail.

Dougall is alleged to have made corrupt payments to medical professionals in the Greek public healthcare system related to supply orthopedic products between February 2002 and December 2005, according to the office.

“We are taking this matter very seriously and are cooperating with the appropriate authorities,” Lorie Gawreluk, vice president of worldwide communications for DePuy Inc., told Medical Product Outsourcing.

Dougall appeared before District Judge Timothy Workman at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Dec. 1 and will next appear Feb. 13, 2010, at Crown Court in Southwark at 9:45 a.m.

The Serious Fraud Office is an independent government department in the United Kingdom, operating under the attorney general.

DePuy International is based in Leeds, England.