JEDDAH: German offices of Airbus Group NV (AIR)’s were searched as part of a query of bribery and tax evasion for its business in Romania and Saudi Arabia, which unveiled the corruption from Saudi Arabia too.
The searches took place a few weeks ago, Thomas Steinkraus-Koch, spokesman for Munich prosecutors, said in an e-mailed statement today. The investigation started last year, he said.
Prosecutors are focusing on questionable payments linked to defense sales of 3 billion euros ($3.7 billion), according to Sueddeutsche Zeitung, which reported on the raids earlier today. The case echoes a corruption case against Siemens AG, which Munich prosecutors settled for 596 million euros in 2006.
“Airbus Group confirms reports that the Munich prosecution office investigates in the context of border surveillance projects of Airbus Defence and Space GmbH with regards to alleged irregularities,” Airbus spokesman Gregor von Kursell said, adding that the company supports the probe.
Prosecutors raided homes of the suspects as well at company premises, according to Steinkraus-Koch. Those included offices in Ottobrunn, Unterschleissheim, Manching, Ulm and Friedrichshafen, Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported.
The company also conducted an internal probe, according to von Kursell. In its report on the first nine months of the year, the company confirmed the probe over Romania after news of the case in that country broke in October.
The company won a 650 million-euro contract to supply border-control systems to Romania in 2008. In 2009, it won a similar contract in Saudi Arabia.
Airbus was raided in 2012 in a similar probe over fighter jet sales to Austria.
