| For Immediate Release May 7, 2007 |
Contact: Farrah Emami Spokesperson Office: 714-347-8405 Cell: 714-323-4486 |
COUNTY EMPLOYEE CONVICTED
OF TAKING CASH BRIBES IN EXCHANGE FOR EXPEDITING POOL PERMITS
SANTA ANA – A civil engineer working as a public employee at the Orange County Resources and Development Management Department was convicted today of receiving bribes in exchange for speeding up the review process of swimming pool permit applications. Zeyad Mohd Kamel Faqih, 47, Corona, pleaded guilty to the court to five counts of a public official receiving a bribe. He was sentenced to 300 hours of community service, three years of formal probation, was ordered to pay restitution, and is permanently disqualified from holding public office or being employed by any government agency in the state of California.
On five occasions between November 9, 2006 and February 21, 2007, Faqih accepted $2,500 in cash and checks from an independent construction contractor as a bribe for speeding up the review process of pool permit applications. Faqih was arrested by Orange County District Attorney Investigators at his work.
Deputy District Attorney Andre Manssourian of the Felony Projects Unit prosecuted this case.
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