Deutsche Bahn to Suspend Operations in Corruption-Ridden Countries

Suddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday that DB was withdrawing from Greece, Algeria, Libya, Rwanda and Thailand due to the corruption risk. Photo by EPA/BGNES

German railway company Deutsche Bahn, DB, is suspending operations in a number of countries with high levels of corruption.

Suddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday that DB was withdrawing from Greece, Algeria, Libya, Rwanda and Thailand due to the corruption risk.

The decision of the German railway giant was explained with findings of the prosecuting authority in Frankfurt that that DB International, a subsidiary of DB, had been paying bribes in a number of countries to secure contracts for consultancy and planning for railway projects.

According to the German daily, DB International paid EUR 315 000 in bribes to Greek officials to secure contracts for the construction of a metro line.

Gerd Becht, Member of the Management Board of DB responsible for Compliance, Privacy and Legal Affairs, made clear that the company had drawn their conclusions and decided to pull out of countries assessed to have high risk of corruption.

Over 30 officials of DBI were fired, including directors and project managers.

The company initiated lawsuits against 10 former officials of DBI.

The prosecuting authority in Frankfurt is investigating 37 people, almost all of them former DBI staff.

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