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Jul 28
2010

Kozlowski: Where's the outrage?

Posted by Going Concern in tax gross upexecutive perksexcusesConglomeratescompliancebonusesaccounting fraudAccountingaccountants

Going Concern

Submitted by Caleb Newquist, republished from Going Concern , Accounting News for Accountants and CFOs.

A couple of weeks ago we told you about fired Tyco accountant Jeff Weist who wasn't really into, among other things, mermaid greeters and costumed wenches. Whether or not he's not a fan of starfish bikinis wasn't the issue, it was the principle of the matter.

You see, some Tyco executives got into a bit of trouble back in the day for some accounting fraud but the kicker was the footage of a four-day "Roman orgy" rager in Sardinia. The jury didn't have much problem throwing the book at former CEO Dennis Kozlowski and former CFO Mark Swartz after concluding that awesome party = crooked execs. Weist figured the company didn't really need more trouble so he raised a fuss over the expenses for another epic bash that was being planned for execs in the Bahamas.

FOX Business Network's Neil Cavuto got wind of this and had Weist on his program only to do most of the talking. When Weist was able to squeeze a word in, he didn't exactly come across as a fun-loving guy but more like your typical accountant that would probably frown on these types of shenanigans. Nevertheless, Weist was given the boot and that has caused a bit of stir - specifically, Weist filing suit against Tyco.

Anyway, a guy that knows a little something about awesome parties - Dennis Kozlowski - caught Cavuto's little program and felt obligated to write a letter (a copy follows in the following pages) expressing his disappointment.

Koz writes, "As I write this letter in my 6′ x 9′ cell jail cell, all I can muster in response to your show is ‘My, how things have changed.' "

Right! Like, how on Earth can you justify stingray feedings? COME ON. You want sexy men and women running around in togas, that's understandable. You just raid your linen closet and you're good to go. But can you believe someone would throw a corporate bash in the Western Hemisphere? Shameful.

He goes on to hem and haw that if it wasn't for some idiot deciding to tape his little bash in Sardinia, which was later shown to 12 Manhattan jurors, he wouldn't even be in this predicament. Further, DK would like to know where the outrage is re: the mermaids, wenches, tattoo artists, bonuses and so forth, "With the Tyco extravaganza where employees were paid ‘bonuses' to attend, you have to ask where is the outrage?"

Well? Outrage? Anyone? The man is in a prison upstate and he can't hear you!

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