Posted by Emeka Madunagu on
German motor manufacturer, DaimlerChrysler AG, has cleared the former boss of Mercedes Benz in Nigeria, Mr. Rudi Kornmayer, of involvement in corruption.
German motor manufacturer, DaimlerChrysler AG, has cleared the former boss of Mercedes Benz in Nigeria, Mr. Rudi Kornmayer, of involvement in corruption.
The German firm, which is the parent company of Mercedes Benz, said on Thursday that its preliminary probe of allegations that senior executives of the subsidiary were aware of bribes paid in at least a dozen countries in Latin America and Africa did not indict Kornmayer.
According to DaimlerChrysler, in an e-mail sent to our correspondent from its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, the internal probe had shown that Kornmayer represented Mercedes' interests in Nigeria 'appropriately" for the 15 years he spent at Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company (ANAMMCO), Enugu as managing director.
Saturday Punch had reported in its August 6 edition that the German firm had been cooperating with the United States Justice Department as well as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over a separate investigation into the allegations.
German authorities reportedly joined the investigation last month after Kornmayer shot himself dead because a suicide note left by the former managing director apparently referred to the inquiry.
Our correspondent had enquired in a questionnaire sent to the German firm about Kornmayer's involvement in the scam as well as the current status of the probe. In response, DaimlerChrysler said in Thursday's statement signed by Marina Raptis of its Communications/Human Resources Department that it had cleared Kornmayer of any wrongdoing.
According to the firm, 'Mr. Rudi Kornmayer was Managing Director of the truck production company ANAMMCO in Enugu, Nigeria, in which DaimlerChrysler holds a 40 per cent minority interest. He was active there since July 1990 and for many years successfully led the company in a difficult market environment. Mr. Kornmayer began his career in 1968 at the former Daimler-Benz AG, where he also completed his education.
It added, 'He was a seasoned manager who was active in several positions on behalf of DaimlerChrysler, including various foreign assignments. His tragic death fills us with deep sadness. Our condolences go out to his family. According to the current status of our information, we can presume that Rudi Kornmayer, who had worked for the company for over 30 years, appropriately represented the company's interests in a difficult environment. At present, there are no indications of any personal irregularities on his part."
DaimlerChrysler also acknowledged that it was cooperating with regulatory authorities in the United States on the bribery probe.
'The SEC launched a formal investigation in August 2004. We provide the U.S. Department of Justice and the SEC with information arising from our own investigation on a voluntary basis. Moreover, we offer further reporting on the issue in our quarterly reports," it concluded.
SATURDAY PUNCH, August 13, 2005