Bribery Scandal Shakes "Apple"

The head of global security at the American "Apple" company, Thomas Muir, is facing charges of bribing police officers, in a scandal that rocks one of the world's largest technology giants.

The British "Sky News" network reported that Thomas Muir is accused of bribing 200 iPads worth $ 70,000 to police officers in California to obtain licenses to carry concealed firearms last year.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney's office said a grand jury indicted the 50-year-old and the two officers on Monday.

"The two police officers refused to issue licenses for concealed weapons to Apple until Muir agreed to grant the devices to the police office," he added.

Muir’s lawyer, Ed Swanson, said that his client is innocent, and Apple said it had conducted its own investigations and found no wrongdoing.

Muir had applied for permits to carry firearms to some security personnel at "Apple" in order to protect senior officials, after the shooting incident that occurred in 2018 at the headquarters of the "YouTube" company in Silicon Valley.

"The process went the way it was supposed to happen," Swanson said, adding that the iPads "were not linked to licenses. There was no bribery, no barter."

It is noteworthy that if Muir and the two police officers are found guilty, they will all face prison terms.

Under California law, it is illegal to carry concealed firearms without a permit.