U.S. Justice Department asks federal judge for additional six months to investigate allegations that Alcoa, affiliates bribed officials in Bahrain

Alison Gallant

PITTSBURGH , November 14, 2011 (Associated Press) – Justice Department wants 6 more months to probe bribery allegations in Alcoa Bahrain lawsuit

A Justice Department attorney has told a federal judge in Pittsburgh that authorities want at least six more months to investigate allegations that Alcoa Inc. and its affiliates bribed officials in the Persian Gulf state of Bahrain.

The allegations were first made in a federal lawsuit filed in 2008 by Aluminum Bahrain BSC, a company also known as Alba that is controlled by the Bahrain government. But the Justice Department intervened and got the judge to put the case on hold while it continued a criminal investigation into the allegations.

On Thursday, Justice Department Attorney Adam Safwat told Senior U.S. District Judge Donetta Ambrose the government needs six more months to investigate the "widespread scheme."

The judge says she'll decide by next week whether to let the lawsuit proceed.

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