Former J&J Executive Charged With Bribery

LONDON (TheStreet) -- A former executive at a Johnson & Johnson(JNJ) subsidiary has been charged with conspiracy to corrupt, two years after Johnson & Johnson revealed that some of its foreign units might have been making improper payments related to the sale of medical devices.

Robert John Dougall, 44, a past vice president at DePuy International, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, was charged in a magistrates' court in London.

The charge springs from allegations that Dougall had been trying to bribe Greek officials to win healthcare contracts for orthopedic products between February 2002 and December 2005.

Dougall has been released on bail.

Two years ago, Johnson & Johnson disclosed that foreign subsidiaries might have been making improper payments related to the sale of medical devices in small-market countries. Johnson & Johnson said it had voluntarily provided the information to the Justice Department and SEC.

Michael Dormer, the executive who was a global head of medical devices and oversaw those overseas units, retired immediately from Johnson & Johnson after its disclosure.