German police have raided the homes and offices of former DaimlerChrysler staff suspected of scamming the car maker and seized evidence in a breach of trust investigation, prosecutors told Reuters on Wednesday.
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The probe centres on allegations that former employees used company assets for private construction projects or took bribes from a business partner of the German car maker, the Stuttgart prosecutor’s office reportedly said in a statement.
Reuters said the statement did not identify the suspects, some of whom it said had worked in the marketing or construction departments at the world’s fifth-biggest car maker.
According to Reuters, the investigation has already caused heads to roll at Daimler, which sent the head of its German marketing organisation into retirement at the end of last year and sacked two other executives implicated in the case.
“We are conducting an investigation and are working closely with prosecutors. Although the final report is not yet ready, we have also taken measures against staff,” a spokeswoman told the news agency.
Prosecutors reportedly said last week their probe had widened to include 11 people, most of them DaimlerChrysler staff.
One company source told Reuters last week that in addition to using company assets for personal purposes, the suspects may have sold discounted cars to unauthorised dealers in return for kickbacks.
