Bribery

A total of 64 people were referred to trial by the Judicial Council of the Court of Appeal for their alleged participation in the corruptions and bribery scandal that broke out in Greece almost seven years ago, over deals between Siemens AG and Greek state-owned telecommunications company, OTE.

The cost of bribery and its impact on economic growth is huge, Nicola Bonucci, head of legal affairs at the Organization for Co-operation and Development, said on March 6.

"What is clear is that whatever the sector we are talking about, the costs are huge," Bonucci said, speaking at the G-20 conference presided over by Turkey in Istanbul.

The apparent suicide of Heinz-Joachim Neuburger, former chief financial officer of Siemens, this week is still shrouded in mystery. The man was found dead under a railroad bridge in Munich, says one source. The Munich police confirmed that a person apparently jumped from Grosshesseloher Bridge, but they did not disclose the identity of that person or confirm if it was indeed Neuburger.

Ex-Siemens chief Heinz-Joachim Neuburger, aged 62, was found dead. Reports say that he committed suicide. The timing of his death following the meeting between Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis and his German counterpart Wolfgang Schauble is seen as a point of interest. During this meeting, a Greek journalist dredged up the bribery scandal again in  a question.

As of Monday, Dec. 1, Turkey took over the presidency of the G20 from Australia. About 15 days ago, Turkey announced in Brisbane that its priorities would be investment, energy, trade, participatory development, climate change, SMEs and integrating developing countries into the world economy.
 
However, there is one more issue that was dropped “into its lap”: Corruption.

A prosecutor recommended Monday that 64 people face bribery and money laundering charges in connection with the Siemens cash-for-contracts scandal following an eight-year probe that did not, however, implicate any politicians.

More than 60 people should be charged in connection to the Siemens cash-for-contracts scandal, a prosecutor has recommended to a council of judges who will make the final decision.

A court in Katerini, near Thessaloniki, gave a 12-month suspended jail sentence to an ophthalmologist on Friday after he was found guilty of accepting a 300-euro bribe in order to speed up a patient’s operation.

The 51-year-old doctor, who is the head of the ophthalmology department at Katerini Hospital, was arrested after the son of the 66-year-old patient notified police.

Health Minister Makis Voridis on Tuesday heralded tougher penalties for offenses in the health sector, noting that instances of blackmail or bribery that are normally categorized as misdemeanors would be treated as felonies if they are committed in the health sector.

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.