Corruption accusations have long plagued ThyssenKrupp’s submarine business, but documents obtained by Handelsblatt show the extent of the dubious methods used by employees at the German industrial giant.
Selling submarines is a tricky business. You have to be half diplomat, half bazaar merchant and able to withstand the inclination to make payments under the table – otherwise known as bribes.
So it seems Ines H. was the wrong person for her job at ThyssenKrupp. Working at the German industrial giant’s Marine Force International subsidiary since January 2010, she was responsible for ensuring its sub deals were handled properly.
Internal documents reveal that Ines H. tried but could not prevent Marine Force, which is partially owned by German industrial services firm Ferrostaal, from making dubious payments and using questionable business constructions to boost sales in recent years.
Special payments were made in connection with submarine deals with Turkey, South Korea, Pakistan and Indonesia. A court in Munich convicted two managers of corruption-related charges in sub sales to Greece in December 2011. ThyssenKrupp officials placed blame for the graft squarely on Ferrostaal at the time.
Lees verder bij Handelsblatt