Greek Inspectors Eye German Sub Deal

Greek financial investigators have ascertained that more than $140 million in bribes were paid by a German submarine maker to local politicians and officials to facilitate a lucrative defense contract.
The deal focused on the purchase of four submarines, a $1.5 billion controversial contract that had drawn heated political debate.
Sources told the Greek Kathimerini newspaper that “numerous bribes were paid before the contract was signed,” alleging that some of the ways in which the final bill was inflated involved requests by the Greek navy and Defense Ministry for extra equipment on the submarines.
The first submarine, named Papanikolis, was commissioned for development by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Kiel, Germany, with the remaining three scheduled for construction at Greece’s Hellenic Shipyards, west of Athens.
(source: UPI)