Uneven Justice

The Plot to Sink Galleon

By: Raj Rajaratnam

Narrated by: Asa Siegel

Raj Rajaratnam, the respected founder of the iconic hedge fund Galleon Group, which managed seven billion dollars and employed 180 people in its heyday, chose to go to trial rather than concede to a false narrative concocted by ambitious prosecutors looking for a scapegoat for the 2008 financial crisis. Naively perhaps, Rajaratnam had expected to get a fair hearing in court. As an immigrant who had achieved tremendous success in his adopted country, he trusted the system. He had not anticipated prosecutorial overreach - inspired by political ambition - FBI fabrications, judicial compliance, and lies told under oath by cooperating witnesses. In the end, Rajaratnam was convicted and sentenced to 11 years in prison. He served seven and a half. Meanwhile, not a single senior bank executive responsible for the financial crisis was even charged.

Uneven Justice is the story of his bewildering and confounding prosecution by forces who, quite frankly, were looking for bigger game. When Rajaratnam refused to support the narrative that would make that happen, he and the Galleon Group became collateral damage.

A must-listen cautionary tale with implications for us all, Uneven Justice is an eye-opening lesson in the vagaries of justice when an unscrupulous prosecutor is calling the shots.

©2021 Raj Rajaratnam (P)2021 Ascent Audio

if it is any book you read this year. ..

I couldn't stop listening to this audio book. If you would have told me this story 10 years ago I wouldn't have believed it, but I went through a similar experience. Riveting.

Fascinating Counterpoint

The overall story is good, suffering somewhat from some repetitive fact presentation as all the evidence is laid out.

It’s fascinating to compare this to the prevailing public narrative (that can be witnessed in “the billionaire’s apprentice”).

Raj stays measured in his arguments, and doesn’t stoop to ad hominem attacks or insults…rather making his personal judgments based on the behaviors of those he’s critical of.

While it’s certainly possible that he’s cherry picking the specific allegations for the book…he presents a compelling and believable defense for himself & a damning critique of a legal system getting caught up in public opinion.

Critical Learning & Flaw In the System

My interest in this book was to merely understand details of this landmark case, with the appreciation that it is merely the author's side of the story. Undoubtedly, given the pioneering circumstances of this case it provides material for many legal precedence as to what not to do or to do differently. To me the most significant of this is the appointment of the Jury. It is totally unrealistic to expect an average person (with no background in investment trading) to understand the concept of MNPI, let alone comprehend all the facts presented during the trial to form an opinion. Even with the evidence of wiretaps, which are easily comprehensible to an everyday person, the practices inherent to the specific industry needs to be taken into consideration. The panel of jurors in this case were in no position to do this. Thus, the rationale and approach to selecting a jury for a criminal case for a murder trial or something of that nature cannot apply to this situation, albeit both being criminal cases. I have no opinion on whether the author was guilty or innocent, notwithstanding a person should not be deemed guilty merely because they are wealthy and adept at their craft.

What a story!! Worth it

I loved this book. Great till the end. I have hope that one day I could become half the trader Raj was on his prime. The fight for Even Justice continues.....Long Live GALLEON!!!

Thank you

I am so thankful you were willing to write this story. I was appalled at the prosecutor’s blatant misconduct and the judge’s ineptitude! I’m also upset at CNBC for not doing a better job of searching for the facts to dispute the common narrative! You are amazing!!
Sincerely,
Kenny B