U.S. oil man gets jail time

听力练习

CNN's Richard Roth reports on the sentencing of Texas oil man Oscar Wyatt in the Iraq oil-for-food scam.

Accompanied by his wife and attorney, Texas oil man Oscar Wyatt arrived at Federal Court, unsure what his sentence would be. Wyatt had already pleaded guilty to conspiracy in a scheme to defraud the massive oil-for-food assistance program. Prosecutors presented evidence of Wyatt, talking with Saddam Hussein about access to Iraqi oil, skirting international sanctions. Another Wyatt attorney called the 83-year-old Tycoon an American Hero. And noted letters of support from celebrities and ordinary citizens who said Wyatt saved or changed their lives. Among the letter writers, heart specialist Michael DeBakey and actress Farah Fawcett. Wyatt stood before the judge breaking into tears. The World War Two fighter pilot saying:'I would never do anything to hurt my country.' He apologized to friends and family.

Can you explain what you said in court apologizing for the cameras are here?

Why should I apologize to you?

Judge Denny Chin heavily praised Wyatt's past humanitarian acts. But said the oil trader clearly broke the law defrauding the oil-for-food program. He added considering Wyatt's background, it's still hard to understand why he did it. The judge went lighter than the recommended sentencing guidelines ordering Wyatt to serve a prison term of one year.

Well that was not what I would have like, but it was a fair situation as far as I am concerned. I think the judge did the best thing he could do, and what he had to work with . Wyatt's Texas socialite wife was pleased since her husband could have faced two years or more in prison.

I am just so proud of my husband. When the judge was talking about him, I was ready to just burst.

Wyatt's sentencing comes two weeks after Chevron oil admitted obtaining Iraqi oil illegally through third parties. And paid thirty million dollars in penalties. Wyatt's lawyer said in court in a fact everyone was doing it.

This doesn't excuse what Mr.Wyatt did, but it was the culture of the market place.

Wyatt also agreed to forfeit eleven million dollars to the government. After pleading guilty in October, Wyatt told reporters he didn't want to waste any more time at 83 years old. The quicker it's over the better. Wyatt will serve his time in his native Texas at a minimum security prison camp.

Richard Roth, CNN New York.

Notes:

Oil-for-Food Assistance Program: 伊拉克石油换食品计划

Forfeit: To surrender, be deprived of, or give up the right to on account of a crime, an offense, an error, or a breach of contract.

文本参考中文翻译

伊拉克石油换食品计划前负责人Oscar Wyatt在得克萨斯被判入狱。CNN记者Richard Roth报道。

得克萨斯前石油负责人Oscar Wyatt在妻子和律师陪伴下来到联邦法庭，尚不确定判决结果。Wyatt已经认罪，承认图谋欺诈

石油换粮食辅助计划。公诉人陈列了Wyatt的犯罪证据。Wyatt曾经跟Saddam Hussein商讨谋取伊拉克石油，无视国际裁决。

Wyatt的另一名律师称这位83岁的企业大亨为美国英雄，并且提出无论明星还是平民都来信支持，称Wyatt改变了他们的生活

。来信人包括心脏专家Michael DeBakey和女演员Farah Fawcett。Wyatt在法官面前潸然落泪。这位二战时期的飞行员说：

“我永远不会做伤害国家的事情。”他向家人和朋友道歉。

关于你在法庭上道歉你怎样解释呢？

我为什么向你道歉？

Denny Chin着重表扬了Wyatt过去的人道主义行为。但是，他说，对石油进行贸易明显违法了法律规定，构成欺诈石油换食

品计划的罪行。他补充说，考虑到Wyatt的背景，仍然难以理解他的行为。相关部门建议判处Wyatt一年有期徒刑，但是法官

酌情进行了裁减。

我并没想到会这样，但是，这比我想象的更加公平。我认为法官已经尽了最大努力。Wyatt的妻子是社会名流，她为丈夫感

到高兴，因为他们本以为Wyatt会被判处两年到三年的徒刑。

我为我丈夫感到自豪。当法官对他进行评价的时候，我就快激动的流泪了。

Chevron石油承认通过第三方非法获得伊拉克石油之后两周对Wyatt进行宣判。Chevron付给第三方数百万美元作为酬谢。Wyatt的律师在法庭上说，实际上，每个人都在这样做。

这并不能成为Wyatt所作所为的接口，但是这是由市场的影响造成的。

Wyatt也同意政府没收1100万美元的资产。10月份认罪之后，Wyatt告诉记者，在83岁高龄，他不想再浪费时间。Wyatt将会在得克萨斯本地的一所小监狱服刑。

单词注解：
Oil-for-Food Assistance Program: 伊拉克石油换食品计划
Forfeit：由于犯罪，错误或者违背合同财产被没收