COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- An inspector general's report charges that three former Ohio Transportation Department officials accepted hunting trips and lap dances from vendors.
The three men worked at a Department of Transportation office in Garfield Heights outside Cleveland, the Cleveland Plain-Dealer reported. Dennis L. Kratochvil managed the facility, while the other two were equipment superintendent Terrence Kosmata and senior purchasing officer Kevin Horrigan.
The report by Inspector General Thomas Charles said that Kratochvil set up procedures to bypass the state requirement of competitive bidding for all purchases of more than $1,000. The system became so corrupt that in one case the state paid $14,000 for purchases that were not delivered, the Columbus Dispatch reported.
Charles said that Kratochvil bought expensive presents for strippers and even paid for cosmetic breast surgery for one woman. He allegedly had sexual encounters in his van parked on DOT property.
The case has been referred to the state Attorney General's Office for possible prosecution.
