Even the Occupy activists couldn?t imagine this: Steal on Wall Street, square up in Rwanda
Galleon Group co-founder Raj Rajaratnam has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for the biggest hedge fund insider trading scheme in US history. Former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta has been convicted of securities fraud and conspiracy for leaking stock tips to Rajaratnam, and his sentencing is coming up on October 24. But Microsoft founder Bill Gates doesn?t like this scenario. Nor does Berkshire Hathaway?s reinsurance chief Ajit Jain. Or the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Their letters of support are among the 400 such that are supposed to sway the sentencing judge of the Federal District Court in Manhattan, with pleas like the following: remember the good that he has done in this world, give him the credit that he deserves for helping others, and take into account his effort to improve the lives of millions of people. Very pretty. Friends in high places sticking around never mind deep disgraces.
Now Gupta?s lawyers have added to the piquancy by appealing for leniency in exchange for community service in Rwanda! They argue that the Rwandans would really appreciate Gupta?s helping to end HIV, malaria, extreme poverty and food insecurity. If he does all this, of course letters could follow to seek his sainthood. Meanwhile, maybe former telecom minister A Raja?s lawyers will take a page out of this book and plea for him to be allowed to work off his sins at one of the orphanages in the sleepy hill-station of Dharamshala.
