Raj Rajaratnam Tased Employees, Hired A Dwarf To Pull Office Pranks: WSJ

In a lengthy profile of hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam, who recently pleaded not guilty to insider trading charges brought by the SEC, the Wall Street Journal almost makes you want to apply for a job at Rajarantnam's firm.

While much has been written about Rajaratnam's alleged web of informants and insider sources in Silicon Valley's biggest companies, who knew the founder of Galleon Group was such a card?

Here's the WSJ:

"At Galleon, Mr. Rajaratnam took his fondness for pranks and dares to a new level. When executives from stun-gun maker Taser International Inc. came to make an investment pitch around 2005, Mr. Rajaratnam offered $5,000 to anyone who'd agree to be shocked. Employees gathered around as two people propped up trader Keryn Limmer at the elbows and another person fired the weapon. Ms. Limmer's legs buckled beneath her from the shock. Ms. Limmer declined to comment."

And there's this:

That same year, employees arrived at Galleon's morning meeting to a surprise: In the conference room was a dwarf whom Mr. Rajaratnam introduced as an analyst hired to cover "small-cap" stocks. He was, in fact, an actor hired for an April Fool's Day gag.

For now, Rajaratnam will have to resort to jailhouse pranks -- despite pleas from his lawyer, his $100 million bail has not yet been reduced. Rajaratnam's lawyer argues that Bernie Madoff actually had less onerous bail terms.

Read the entire WSJ piece.

Comments

[Balzac]

10:07 PM on 01/03/2010

Based on the culture of the financial sector, I think Raj was not a particularly troublesome player in this business environment in which ruthlessness is prized.

Based on what was done to Bernie Madoff, who was sentenced based on the volume of funds which went through his company, rather than the discrepancy between the expectations and actual performance, and the uneven distribution of bail-out funds, I'm going to err on the side of judiciousness and say that Raj is probably getting excessive scrutiny and overly punitive treatment from the authorities.

Furthermore, I think it is bad for America's foreign relations with India. India is a very unique and special geopolitical ally, one of the most stable democracies in the world. India is always there, never making trouble, taking care of business and they also have a great entertainment sector of their economy.

It is bad if our allies in India get the idea that one of their star investors might have suffered any more scrutiny than many others who've also failed to conform to all the regulations. Therefore, I say think twice before making the decision to make an exampleout of Raj Rajaratnam. He is not so different from many others.

[Pero]

07:29 PM on 01/02/2010

Any prison time? I bet - none.

[NevaforLeadership]

08:21 AM on 12/31/2009

What a cad!

[JJK]

10:43 AM on 12/30/2009

What a boss! Have one of your employees risk Cardiac Arrest for $5,000!

We had him all wrong. This guy is a real class act.

[RightWingMarine]

02:53 PM on 12/30/2009

the risk is small and what's wrong with compensating someone for testing a weapons effectivness?

[NevaforLeadership]

12:01 PM on 12/31/2009

It wasn't his role to test the product, particularly on someone else. If he wanted the effectiveness demonstrated, before showing them his allegedly stolen money, he should have offered himself up as the guinea pig.

He did this out of a sick form of egotism.

[Stevealmi]

07:29 AM on 12/30/2009

"Hmm...an Obama donor."

These rat bastards have to contribute to both parties to keep that special tax rate. Wait, the President said he was going to fix that!

[1liberalconspirator]

02:52 AM on 01/01/2010

With regards to the investment industry, they contribute to both parties. They attend dinners hosted by both parties and hire lobbyists at alarming rates.

[Josh Popichak]

04:24 AM on 12/30/2009

Wow, that woman risked a heart stoppage for $5K? No wonder she doesn't want to talk about it now...

[loki]

03:41 AM on 12/30/2009

"Dont crush that Dwarf, Hand me the Pliers! "

[loki]

03:40 AM on 12/30/2009

Im sure he will be listed as one of the great managers of all time at the Ivy greed educational institutions, and be going to the highest bidders among big business now that his secret is out. Microsoft, Enterprise rent a car, CitiGroup, BOfA or any wall street firm would love to hire him , even as a consultant.

[afgail]

02:46 AM on 12/30/2009

Not really funny at all, just a stupid demeaning pun.

[DeeDubya]

02:10 AM on 12/30/2009

Van Wilder III: The Rise of Raj.

I'd lose my job in a heart beat if I pulled any of those stunts.

I hope he finds love in prison.

[SteveEbenedicT]

01:56 AM on 12/30/2009

That wasn't a dwarf-it was Rahm Emanuel.

[cobobs]

01:25 AM on 12/30/2009

It is called product testing. People who design, manufacture, sell, market, distribute, invest in the cruel cattle prod taser should be required to test their product. It should be part of the job description and not receive $5000 for the test. Mr Raj, aught to be tased as well.

[Republitarian]

12:42 AM on 12/30/2009

Seems like a big fat Democrat:

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?last=Rajaratnam&first=Raj

Donated thousands to Dems.

[NevaforLeadership]

08:23 AM on 12/31/2009

What's your point?

Are you trying to denigrate one person by the actions of another? How ridiculous.

[1liberalconspirator]

03:01 AM on 01/01/2010

Maybe he just did not want to be associated with all of the these people:

http://www.republicansexoffenders.com/

Are you trying to make a point with your posting about this man's weight and political contributions?

[Republitarian]

12:40 AM on 12/30/2009

Hmm...an Obama donor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raj_Rajaratnam#Contributions_to_Charitable_and_Political_Organizations

[Republitarian]

12:39 AM on 12/30/2009

I'd let him taze me for $5K.

[RightWingMarine]

02:55 PM on 12/30/2009

me too. $5000 for a temporary shock? Yes I can!