LEONARD Glenn Francis, a Malaysian military contractor under house arrest after admitting responsibility over a massive bribery scandal in the US Navy, is now on the run, The San Diego Tribune reports.

Supervisory Deputy US Marshal Omar Castillo said that Francis, better known as “Fat Leonard”, reportedly cut off his GPS monitoring ankle bracelet on Sunday morning.

“He was planning this out, that’s for sure,” Castillo was quoted as saying. Neighbours have also reportedly claimed to see moving trucks in and out of Francis’ home in the last few days.

Francis is due to be sentenced on September 22.

San Diego policemen found his house empty, with the US Marshals Office subsequently notified yesterday. The San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force was activated and a high-profile manhunt was initiated, it was reported.

Law enforcement agencies are now on the lookout for Francis, and alerts placed at international borders, Castillo reportedly said.

He however added that Francis may have already crossed into Mexico.

Francis had pleaded guilty in 2015 to plying officers with cash, booze, prostitutes and other perks to ensure US Navy ships stopped at ports where his firm Glenn Defence Marine Asia operated.

Twelve US Navy officers had pleaded guilty in the United States to charges relating to their roles in the scandal, with nine of them sentenced to various jail terms and fines.

According to US prosecutors, Francis had picked up the tab on widespread debauchery including a May 2008 “raging multi-day party, with a rotating carousel of prostitutes, during which the conspirators drank all of the Dom Perignon available at the Shangri-La” hotel in Manila at a cost of more than US$50,000 (RM224,600).

In one port visit by the USS Blue Ridge in 2007, historical memorabilia in the MacArthur Suite at the Manila Hotel related to legendary US General Douglas MacArthur “were used by the participants in sexual acts”. – September 6, 2022.