Unaoil Bribery Sentencing Documents Will Remain Under Seal

A lower court should’ve given more notice that part of the sentencing hearing for an Unaoil Monaco SAM executive who pleaded guilty for his role in a bribery scheme would be closed, but the Fifth Circuit rejected media companies’ bid to unseal documents related to the hearing.

The documents relating to Saman Ahsani’s sentencing were justifiably sealed to protect the safety of the defendants, Judge Jerry E. Smith said, and rightly balanced against the public’s right to access.

Ahsani and his brother pleaded guilty to criminal changes after bribing various public officials to secure oil contracts. Saman Ahsani ultimately was ...