Two former directors were given suspended sentences Siemens on Tuesday in Munich within a major investigation carried out in recent years led to specific legal charges. One of those sentenced is the highest-ranking former official received punishment far in corruption investigations. We are talking about Michael Kuchenroyter – 55-year-old former finance director at Siemens, where, according to prosecutors long functioned called. “Black boxes” used for bribes to ensure the major international treaties. Kuchenroyter was head of department in the telecommunications division of the group, he receives a sentence of two years and a conditional fine of 60 thousand euros for abuse of trust. Also suspended sentence – a year and a half – is set for Hans-Werner Hartmann, a former accountant and associate of Kuchenroyter. They have participated in the establishment of the system with “black boxes” in 2006. Michael currently lives in Dubai Kuchenroyter, it was found that he concealed the payment of bribes to politicians in Russia and Nigeria. His assistant did was aware of what is happening.
Both defendants had confessed at the beginning of the process on April 12. Former CFO then said he had “acted with indifference in carrying out discrete payments through dubious contracts for consulting services. In his words at that time he was convinced that his actions were in favor of the company, which works. In exchange for confessions made by some initially raised charges against two former employees of Siemens were withdrawn. In the period 2000 – 2006 г. Siemens paid bribes totaling about 1.3 billion, which the Munich-based group has gained fame on the largest scandal in Germany’s economic history. Three other associates of Michael Kuchenroyter time ago also received suspended sentences in the case, but the company itself was condemned by Germany’s state and U.S. authorities regulating the financial sector. So far conglomerate has paid about 2.5 billion fines, taxes, and retroactively cost of internal investigations.