By JAY REEVES, Associated Press Writer

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Former Gov. Don Siegelman and two others were indicted in a bid-rigging scheme involving a maternity-care program, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.

The charges accused the Democrat and his former chief of staff, Paul Hamrick, of helping Tuscaloosa physician Phillip Bobo rig the bids while Siegelman was governor.

Siegelman and Hamrick were accused of moving $550,000 from the state education budget to the State Fire College in Tuscaloosa so Bobo could use the money to pay off a competitor for a state contract for maternity care.

Siegelman's attorney, Doug Jones, said he was still trying to learn details of the indictment and had no immediate comment.

Siegelman was narrowly defeated for re-election in 2002 by Republican Bob Riley, who ran on a campaign of ethics in government.

The indictment refers to numerous unindicted coconspirators, who were identified only by their positions, including members of Siegelman's transition team, lobbyists and the acting commissioner at the time of the Alabama Medicaid Agency.

Bobo, Siegelman and Hamrick are each charged with conspiracy, health care fraud and program fraud, which involves theft from a federally funded program. Bobo is also charged with witness tampering, wire fraud, lying to the FBI and perjury. [...]