Apple has become one of the most influential and profitable technology firms in the world on the back of devices like the iPod and the iPhone among others. The company has been in the news of late for all manner of issues stemming from the design of the new iPhone 4 and the antenna troubles plaguing users of the device.

A new controversy surrounding the iPhone and the iPod has surfaced today. A mid-level manager at Apple named Paul Shin Devine has been arrested on charges of taking kickbacks, wire fraud, and money laundering. Apple has also filed a separate civil suit against Devine. According to the charges filed, Devine and his partner in the scheme Andrew Ang from Singapore took kickbacks amounting to $1 million.

According to papers filed in the indictment, the two men had a scheme where Devine provided insider information to companies that allowed them to bid more effectively on contracts for iPhone accessories. The scheme also involved multiple bank accounts and a shell company.