Advertisement

Greek telecom reportedly suing for Siemens slush fund secrets

AFP
AFP - [email protected]
Greek telecom reportedly suing for Siemens slush fund secrets

Greek telephone company OTE reportedly wants a German court to force engineering giant Siemens to reveal whether it paid bribes to OTE employees to secure a $1-billion contract.

Advertisement

The daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on Saturday that OTE had gone to the Munich court in the first legal action taken by a foreign company against Siemens over a slush fund the German firm has admitted operating.

OTE wants the court to order Siemens to reveal details of an internal inquiry into its activities in Greece, with a view to eventually suing for damages.

Greek prosecutors are investigating the 1997 contract, which Siemens is suspected of securing by paying 75 million dollars to OTE executives. Greek politicians are also alleged to have benefitted from the German company's largesse.

The Siemens scandal erupted in late 2006 and has shaken the group to its core. The sprawling conglomerate has acknowledged that €1.3 billion ($2 billion) were funneled into various funds used to obtain foreign contracts, and that the practice was widespread across its numerous divisions.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also