German arms firm raided as part of probe into bribes

German prosecutors on Thursday searched the Munich offices of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) in connection to the alleged payment of bribes to Greek officials over the sale of 170 Leopard 2 tanks and 24 self-propelled howitzers at least a decade ago, Kathimerini understands.

Sources said that the raid was launched as part of a German investigation but also following a request for more information from prosecutors in Greece.

The two contracts were worth a combined 1.9 billion euros, making KMW one of the Greek state’s biggest arms suppliers. Sources told Kathimerini that prosecutors in Germany have been following the money trail and believe they have traced payments that were made in order to bribe officials.

The request for information from Athens came in the wake of prosecutors questioning Antonis Kantas, the former general secretary for procurements who has admitted to receiving bribes from foreign arms suppliers.

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