A former Clark executive who pleaded guilty to lying to US federal agents investigating a trade embargo violation with Iran last year has been fined USD5,000.

David S C Tatum, a retired Clark Material Handling Co vice president, also was sentenced to probation and community service, the Lexington Herald Leader reported.

US District Court Judge John D Bates called Tatum's offence "serious" and said his conduct impeded justice.

Tatum, 70, who retired last year, pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to agents investigating whether Clark employees had violated the US trade embargo to Iran in 2003 and 2004 (Forkliftaction.com News #259).

Tatum told Bates in court last Friday that he regretted his false statement and wanted to apologise to the court and his family and friends.

Bates said he would transfer the one-year probation to the eastern district of Kentucky, in Lexington, where Tatum lived. Tatum must perform 50 hours of community service, pay for a USD100 special assessment and submit to DNA testing.

This year, Clark vice president Robert E Quinn was sentenced to 39 months' jail after a jury found him guilty of five counts of making illegal exports to Iran (Forkliftaction.com News #249).

Quinn is appealing against his conviction. Another employee, Michael Holland, was acquitted after the eight-day trial.