A US Navy commander implicated in the bribery scandal to divert US navy ships to several South-East Asian ports owned by Malaysian contractor 'Fat' Leonard Francis pleaded guilty in the San Diego Federal Court yesterday.

Michael Misiewicz pleaded guilty in the San Diego Federal Court to conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery of a public official, The San Diego Union Tribune reported.

Sentencing for Misiewicz was fixed on April 29.

Seven others, including Francis and former and current Navy members and employees have all pleaded guilty in the case which prosecutors claim is still unfolding.

Only one defendant, namely a former of US department of defence official, Paul Simpkins, who once oversaw the Navy contracts in South-east Asia, remains with his plea to claim trial.

Francis was arrested in the US two years ago for using prostitutes, plane tickets and other bribes to hook top US Navy officers in a scheme that overbilled the Pentagon by millions of dollars.

Francis was chief executive of Singapore-based company Glenn Defence Marine Asia Ltd (GDMA) which serviced US warships in the Pacific region for years by providing fuel, food and other services.

GDMA also invented tariffs by using phony port authority documents, including from Port Klang, the report says.

Nine months ago, Lieutenant Commander Todd Malaki, 44, pleaded guilty in San Diego to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery in the same case.