Flat-panel maker AU Optronics Corp (友達光電) chairman Lee Kun-yao (李焜耀) yesterday again denied price-fixing allegations that were leveled at the company and six of its executives in a US Department of Justice (DOJ) indictment last week.
Lee said AU Optronics would fight the charges to clear its name and protect its reputation and credibility.
A federal grand jury in San Francisco accused AU Optronics, its Houston-based US subsidiary and six executives of participating in a conspiracy to fix prices of TFT-LCD panels from September 2001 to December 2006.
If convicted, the AU Optronics executives could each face up to 10 years in prison and a US$1 million fine, while the company could be hit with a fine of US$100 million.
Lee, who is also the chairman of consumer electronics manufacturer Qisda Corp (佳世達), said at Qisda’s annual shareholders’ meeting yesterday that AU Optronics is the first corporation to fight the US charges.
He said there was no evidence to back up allegations that AU Optronics participated in price-fixing, adding that the company would not plead guilty to the charges.
Six electronics firms have pleaded guilty in connection with the conspiracy case and a total of 17 executives have been charged.
In a statement issued immediately after the indictment was handed down, AU Optronics said it was disappointed with the DOJ’s move since it had cooperated with the department and other authorities in their investigation into the price-fixing allegations.
The company said the charges would not have a “materially adverse impact” on its day-to-day operations.
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