http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/1008925/aussie-jailed-in-us-over-k...

An ex-Australian Army soldier has been jailed for nine months in the US for his role in a $US900,000 Afghanistan security contract kickback scandal.

Scott Anthony Walker, 36, told US District Court judge Gerald Bruce Lee on Friday he was sorry and took responsibility for his actions.

After leaving the Australian Army, Walker was lured to Afghanistan by the prospect of earning big money in the private sector.

Walker took a job as security co-ordinator in Kabul with engineering companies Louis Berger Group and Black & Veatch.

The companies, as a joint venture, won a $US1.4 billion ($A1.62 billion) US government contract and Walker used his position on a committee to attempt to solicit $US900,000 in kickbacks from private security vendors seeking subcontracts.

The Queenslander was facing more than three years in a US federal prison, but Judge Lee slashed the sentence to nine months because Walker agreed to fly from Australia to the US in November, surrender to American authorities and plead guilty to a charge of conspiracy to solicit a kickback.

Walker also handed over secret emails and became a key prosecution witness in the case, which last week led to the guilty plea of an American co-conspirator, Ryan McMonigle.

Walker's family made a late plea to Judge Lee, telling the Virginia-based judge in heartfelt letters "Scott is extremely dedicated to his family" and was "now paying for his poor choice".
Sounds like someones starting at the bottom and making their wqay towards the top ?