An official at the Ministry of Trade and Industry has stated that the results of internal ministry investigations into a bribery case involving German automaker Daimler-Chrysler failed to identify the ministry officials involved in the scandal.
Instead, investigations focused on collecting information to give to relevant authorities who would then be responsible for determining who had taken bribes, he added.
Daimler-Chrysler, the manufacturer of Mercedes automobiles, is alleged to have bribed officials from 21 countries, including Egypt, over a period from 1998 to 2008 in an effort to boost sales in those countries.
Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif decided in May to present Attorney General Abd el-Maguid Mahmoud with information about the case. Mahmoud then requested that the Foreign Ministry and Trade Ministry file requests with the US for information about the case.
The Trade Ministry official, who requested anonymity, said that the ministry had presented results of its investigation–comprised of information collected internally as well as from the US–to the Attorney General in June.
The Attorney General’s office is currently examining contracts signed with Daimler-Chrysler during the period between 1998 and 2004.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
