Houston oilman charged in oil-for-food probe

By DAVID IVANOVICH
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- Legendary Houston oilman Oscar Wyatt and two others have been accused of paying millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's regime.

Wyatt was arrested at his home in Houston this morning and appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He is scheduled to be arraigned next week in New York.

In the latest indictments to emerge from the ongoing investigation into the United Nations' oil-for-food program, a New York grand jury has accused Wyatt and two Swiss business executives of funneling cash to front companies and bank accounts controled by the Iraqi government.