Ex-Siemens managers on trial over bribery charges

FRANKFURT- Two former executives at Siemens AG’s power plant unit will go on trial next month, accused of paying some US$7,81 million in bribes to secure contracts for the company’s power generation unit.

Christa Pfannenschmidt, a spokeswoman for the Darmstadt regional court, said Monday that the two men, ages 63 and 73, will go on trial March 13. They face charges of bribery and breach of trust.They two are suspected of paying bribes to a pair of managers with Italian utility Enel SpA in a bid to win a series of contracts for Siemens-made gas turbines.According to the court, the men are alleged to have made the payments between 1999 and 2002.Pfannenschmidt said the court had set aside four days for the trial.Munich-based Siemens confirmed the two men had been its employees but left the company in 2003 and 2004.It did not release their names.Nampa-APThey face charges of bribery and breach of trust.They two are suspected of paying bribes to a pair of managers with Italian utility Enel SpA in a bid to win a series of contracts for Siemens-made gas turbines.According to the court, the men are alleged to have made the payments between 1999 and 2002.Pfannenschmidt said the court had set aside four days for the trial.Munich-based Siemens confirmed the two men had been its employees but left the company in 2003 and 2004.It did not release their names.Nampa-AP