NYC crane inspector charged with bribes

NEW YORK, June 6 (UPI) -- The man in charge of inspecting construction cranes in New York was arrested Friday on charges of taking bribes from a crane company.

James Delayo, acting chief inspector with the cranes and derricks unit in the New York Department of Buildings, surrendered to city investigators, The New York Times reported.

Delayo became acting chief inspector in March after one deadly collapse of a large crane, which was followed by another last week. But his alleged crimes involve smaller cranes, the District Attorney's Office said.

He allegedly took bribes of a few hundred dollars each from a company to ensure that its crane operators passed the licensing examination, and provided the company with a copy of the test and answers for $3,000. He is alleged to have taken bribes to pass cranes up for inspection.

"This is a case where greed trumps safety," said Daniel Castleman, the chief assistant district attorney in Manhattan. "With all the construction going on in New York City and the fatal accidents of the last few months, this type of conduct cannot and will not be tolerated."