New York: A United States company has pleaded guilty to illegally shipping equipment to Pakistan in 1997 that could be used for making nuclear devices.

Omega Engineering Inc, a Connecticut company, will pay $ 313,000 in fine and its Chief Financial Officer Ralph Michel faces a prison term up to 10 years along with a fine of $ 50,000 after they pleaded guilty to exporting $ 187,000 worth of technological equipment to Pakistan.

According to the prosecution, the firm's request to export the material to state-run National Development Centre in Pakistan was rejected by the US Commerce Department twice. It then shipped the equipment to its German subsidiary, which was ultimately sent to Pakistan, media reports said in New York.

An anonymous tip after September 11, 2001 terror attacks alerted the officials who launched an investigation into the export of the equipment.

The investigators said the equipment reached Pakistan in the fall of 1997 but lost its trail after that.

The firm has pleaded guilty to violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Export Administration Act and the sentencing is due on July 16.

Authorities were concerned the equipment would be used in nuclear explosive devices or nuclear fuel activities, prosecutors said.

PTI