EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Records disclosed in a lawsuit claim that top executives at the Sikh-controlled Oregon food company Golden Temple in Eugene drew excessive compensation in recent years while the company slashed its donations to Sikh religious and educational nonprofit groups.
The Register-Guard reports the rapidly rising paychecks came after a group of Golden Temple executives largely gained control of the company through a reorganization in 2007.
The state is seeking to recover any excessive pay from the CEO — former Eugene resident Kartar Singh Khalsa — and other top executives.
The latest disclosure comes in a lawsuit by Oregon Attorney General John Kroger and religious leaders of the Sikh community.
A trial is set for May 23 in Portland.