Ex-Bristol-Myers worker accused of secrets theft

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former Bristol-Myers Squibb Co employee was charged with stealing company secrets and proprietary information as part of a plan to set up his own pharmaceutical company in India, the U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday.

Shalin Jhaveri, 29, had worked as a technical operations associate since November 2007, but was fired from the company's Syracuse facility on Tuesday, according to the Justice Department and the company.

"Jhaveri stole numerous trade secrets as part of a plan to establish a pharmaceutical firm in his native India which would compete with Bristol-Myers Squibb in various markets around the world," the Justice Department said in a statement.

He was arrested and a judge ordered him held without bail ahead of a detention hearing set for Monday. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

"We are aware of the case and we are cooperating fully with the authorities," said Bristol-Myers spokesman Brian Henry.

The company develops and manufactures biotechnology medicines for clinical and commercial use at the Syracuse facility.

He declined to comment on how the alleged theft was discovered.

It was not immediately clear whether Jhaveri had obtained a lawyer.

(Reporting by Jeremy Pelofsky; editing by Leslie Gevirtz, Bernard Orr and Andre Grenon)