Lens manufacturer settles army suit

17 Jun 2002

Plummer Precision Optics in the US has reportedly pleaded guilty to shipping millions of dollars worth of defective parts to the military and has agreed to pay more than USD 875, 000 in fines.

According to a release on a Yahoo Newswire Plummer Precision Optics (PPO) also admitted to making false inspection reports. The company had been charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the US by submitting false claims and two counts of violation of the Arms Export Control Act. The allegations stemmed from a whistle-blower lawsuit that was filed in 1997 by PPO's former marketing director.

Assets of PPO were bought by Edmund Optics Inc. late last year. Theseassets, which will operate under the name Edmund Optics, Plummer PrecisionManufacturing Division are financially and legally independent from PPO.Edmund Optics Inc. does not bear any responsibility for any prior action orsettlement on the part of PPO