WASHINGTON, July 21: The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has imposed a record fine of $ 323,000 on a German businessman making it the largest penalty for individual campaign finance violations.

The businessman, Thomas Kramer, made illegal donations to both the Republican and Democratic parties and candidates, the FEC said yesterday.The Florida Republican Party was the largest recipient of Kramer's largesse. The party was fined $ 82,000.

Other recipients, such as the Democratic National Committee and Senator Connie Mack, Florida Republican, were sent warning letters by the FEC.The FEC charged that Kramer, who runs businesses in Florida, funneled more than $ 400,000 to state, local and federal campaigns in 1993 and 1994. He was prohibited from donating to US Elections because he is a foreign national.

The FEC's file on Kramer provides an unflattering picture of fund-raising by both Republicans and Democrats. Kramer's attorney told the FEC that no fund-raiser from either party ever inquired into his immigration status or refused funds from him because he was a foreign national.

Kramer said that he was told by a democratic party fund-raiser that he should disguise a donation to the democratic senatorial campaign committee (DSCC) in the name of a US citizen. The fund-raiser's name was not given.

Kramer made a $ 20,000 contribution through his secretary to the DSCC in April 1993. He also made two donations to the Democratic National Committee of $ 25,000 and $ 40,000, in 1993. The first came at a fund-raising dinner honouring Vice-President Albert Gore. However, the single largest beneficiary of Kramer's political generosity was the Republican Party of Florida. Kramer gave the state Republican Party $ 2,05,000 in 1993 and 1994.

The FEC said that when Kramer learned through a newspaper article that some of his contributions might have been illegal, he immediately contacted his attorney, who notified the agency.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.