Houston (Texas): The announcement that a former executive at the failed energy trader Enron Corp has cut a deal with Federal prosecutors will turn up the heat on the other figures in one of corporate America's worst financial scandals, analysts said on August 21.

"It says co-operate or be indicted," said Christopher Bebel, a securities expert at a Houston Law firm. "Decision time is now."

Michael Kopper had been just a bit player in the Enron saga up until now, but the 37- year-old took centrestage on August 21 when he became the first of the firm's former top brass to be indicted on corruption charges.

The former managing director of Enron's investment vehicle, LJM2, pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering in court, in what prosecutors are hoping will lead to further convictions in the case.

"We anticipate that there will be other cases, and that the information Mr Kopper will provide will be of great assistance to the government as it proceeds," said Steve Cutler, enforcement chief at the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Although the strategy of using a co-operating witness to incriminate higher-ups is straight out of a prosecutors' handbook, it should not obscure the Justice Department's achievement in finding a helpful witness among the ranks of former Enron officials, one legal expert said.

"It helps the government to cut to the chase. It's a very direct roadmap as to who did what," said Thomas Ajamie, a securities expert at Schirrmeister Ajamie in Houston.