Prosecutors in Munich investigating the alleged embezzlement of funds at German electronics giant Siemens are likely to discount claims that up to –10 million was used to pay bribes to Greek officials, sources told Sunday’s Kathimerini.

One of the six current and former Siemens employees held in connection with the alleged slush funds claims the money was used to help the consortium, of which Siemens was part, win the contract for the 2004 Olympics security system.

The German weekly Der Spiegel claimed that these funds were used to pay bribes to officials at the Interior and Defense ministries.

However, sources said that German prosecutors are aware of the results of an internal investigation by Siemens which indicates that the money was not used to bribe officials but was likely used to sweeten other deals in Cyprus and Greece with more regular customers.

An official at the German firm told Kathimerini that the Olympics are a one-off event whereas “steady clients are always there.” The official wanted to remain anonymous.

Sources said the internal investigation was launched after Prodromos Mavridis, who was information and communications general manager at the firm until April, left Siemens in Greece.

Mavridis and the managing director of Siemens in Greece, Michalis Christoforakos, are due to appear today before a prosecutor in Athens who is also investigating the case.