MAIN WITNESS STILL IN HOT SEAT PR VEEP: I COOPERATED WITH PROSECUTION FOR IMMUNITY.Byline: JOSH KLEINBAUM Staff Writer A day after attacking the credibility of the prosecution's star witness, defense attorneys for former Fleishman-Hillard executives Doug Dowie and John Stodder focused Thursday on the reason she testified against them. Monique Moret, a former vice president for the public relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most firm, testified that she agreed to cooperate with the federal government's investigation into fraudulent The description of a willful act commenced with the Specific Intent to deceive or cheat, in order to cause some financial detriment to another and to engender personal financial gain. billing at Fleishman-Hillard to secure immunity from prosecution herself. Dowie and Stodder are accused of bilking the city's Department of Water and Power of more than $300,000 by charging for hours that were never worked, and Moret testified Wednesday that she personally fudged the numbers. She testified she was told to do so by Stodder, her immediate boss, and with the knowledge of Dowie, who supervised Stodder. Dowie, who formerly headed up the firm's Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. office, and Stodder, a senior vice president, have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and wire fraud. Under cross-examination Thursday, Moret said she never voiced concerns about fraudulent billing in the DWP DWP Department of Work and Pensions (UK) DWP Drinking Water Program DWP Dynamic Weapon Pricing (gamin, Counter-Strike: Source) DWP Department of Water & Power DWP Drinking Water Protection account to other company executives or attorneys conducting an internal investigation, and cooperated with the government only after receiving immunity. "I wanted immunity," Moret said. "Isn't that what everyone wants?" According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the agreement signed by Moret and presented to the jury by defense attorneys, Moret told investigators she would invoke To activate a program, routine, function or process. the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination unless she received immunity. After her testimony and outside the jury's presence, U.S. District Judge Gary Feess chastised chas·tise tr.v. chas·tised, chas·tis·ing, chas·tis·es 1. To punish, as by beating. See Synonyms at punish. 2. To criticize severely; rebuke. 3. Archaic To purify. defense attorneys for badgering Moret by repeatedly covering familiar ground. Moret has testified for 15 hours, including 11 hours of cross-examination, and will continue with more cross-examination this morning. "Here's the test: If I am able to answer the question, then it's already been covered," Feess told the lawyers. "I could have sat in the witness box and answered Miss Moret's questions most of the afternoon." josh.kleinbaum(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3669 |
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