Siemens will be fined, says outgoing minister
Outgoing Justice Minister Haris Kastanidis said on Friday that he had prepared the paperwork for the Greek branch of Siemens to be fined following allegations that it bribed officials to secure contracts.
Kastanidis, who was replaced by Militiadis Papaioannou at the Justice Ministry, said Greece was ready to impose a heavy fine on Siemens Hellas. ?All you will have to do is sign it,? Kastanidis told his successor before taking over at the Interior Ministry.
He did not give details about the size of the fine or how the fine would be collected. Earlier this year, the government had suggested it was close to reaching an out-of-court settlement with the company. Judicial and parliamentary probes have yet to lead to anyone being convicted of offering or accepting bribes.
