[ by Larry Goldfarb ]

Raj Rajaratnam's best friend, and former Intel executive, Rajiv Goel,  who provided inside information about his employer was sentenced him to two years' probation.  Mr. Goel, pleaded guilty and helped the government in its prosecution.  His light sentence was supported by federal prosecutors who found him to be an invaluable witness against Rajaratnam.

During the hedge fund titan's trial in 2011, Mr. Goel was one of the three crucial government witnesses who testified against him.  The other two witnesses - Anil Kumar, a former McKinsey & Company executive, and Adam Smith, a Harvard-educated former Galleon Group trader - also received probationary sentences.  Mr. Rajaratnam is now serving an 11-year sentence at a federal prison in Massachusetts.

Judge Barbara Jones, who sentenced Mr. Goel in Federal District Court in Manhattan, said that she had given him probation because of his extraordinary help in building a case against Mr. Rajaratnam and his essential testimony during the trial.  She also noted that he had already paid a price for his crimes.

The 54-year-old Mr. Goel, who lives in Palo Alto, Calif., has not worked since Intel fired him after his arrest.  Appearing in federal court on Monday and accompanied by his wife, Mr. Goel pleaded for leniency in a brief statement that he read to Judge Jones.  "I had a serious lapse of judgment and good sense and I deeply apologize," said Mr. Goel, speaking in a soft mumble.  "I hope that I am given another chance to repair the harm that I have caused and am deeply ashamed for the mistakes that I have made."

For more information, [NY Times, 9/24/12].