Bribery relating to the construction of the Yamal Pipeline: Siemens subsidiary pays reparation
Bern, 12.11.2013 - The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has concluded a criminal investigation into the Swedish company Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery (SIT). The investigation was closed after SIT admitted inadequate enforcement of compliance regulations in relation to Yamal gas pipeline projects and paid CHF 125,000 in reparation. SIT also paid US$ 10.6 million in compensation for unlawfully obtained profits.
The OAG investigated the circumstances behind contracts awarded to the Swedish company, acquired by Siemens in 2003, for the supply of gas turbines during the construction of the pipeline, which runs from the gas fields on the Russian Yamal peninsula to Western Europe. In the course of project, initiated by Russia's largest natural gas production company, bribes were paid to senior executives of the Russian state-owned company. SIT made the unlawful payments between 2004 and 2006 via bank accounts held by the end recipients in Switzerland. This was the connecting factor that gave rise to the OAG's investigation.
The SIT accepts that it did not take all the required and reasonable organisational steps to prevent bribes being paid to foreign public officials in connection with projects to build compressor stations and to supply gas turbines for the Yamal pipeline network. In particular, it admitted basic failures in checking consultancy agreements. The company is therefore guilty of organisational offences under Art. 102 of the Swiss Criminal Code (SCC). SIT has paid reparation of CHF 125,000 in the form of a donation to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
As a consequence, the OAG closed the investigation into SIT based on Art. 53 SCC and at the same time ordered the forfeiture of unlawfully obtained assets. The profits obtained unlawfully from the projects concerned amount to US$ 10.6 million. The OAG ordered SIT to pay a corresponding sum in compensation to the State (Art. 71 para. 1 SCC). The compensation has now been paid.
Address for enquiries
Jeannette Balmer, Spokeswoman OAG, +41 31 324 32 40, info@ba.admin.ch
Publisher
Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland
http://www.ba.admin.ch/
