Glen Cove man indicted on bribery charges

Federal prosecutors said a Glen Cove man who ran a program at a Bronx nonprofit agency has been indicted on charges he accepted home renovations as a bribe.

Satnarine Seebachan, 50, surrendered Monday, according to a statement issued by state acting Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott. He was arraigned in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank Maas on one count of bribery.

The charges come after a joint investigation by the offices of the state Inspector General office and U.S. Attorney.

"It is an outrage that a person placed in a position of trust in overseeing bids and awarding contracts that utilize funds designated to assist New Yorkers in need would take advantage of his position for personal gain," said Scott.

Neither Seebachan nor his attorney could be reached for comment.

Scott said that Seebachan, as program director at Bronx Shepherds Restoration Corp., was in charge of the bidding process, choosing construction companies that would perform renovations on buildings, apartments and houses funded by two federally funded programs, the Weatherization Assistance Program and the Home Program.

Authorities said Seebachan convinced bidding contractors to provide free or discounted upgrades to his home. Prosecutors said he received about $100,000 worth of work.

"As alleged, Satnarine Seebachan used his power to control certain federal purse strings to buy for himself elaborate home renovations at significant discounts, and in some cases, for free. Abuse and exploitation of the federal contracting system will not be tolerated and those who engage in this conduct will be held to account," said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.