DaimlerChrysler suspends mangers over bribe accusations

German-American joint auto giant DaimlerChrysler has suspended a few managers over accusations that they secured import licenses for Iraq through bribes, German media reported Saturday.

The weekly news magazine Der Spiegel reported nine managers of DaimlerChrysler Overseas (DCOS), which is operating sales to Russia, Africa and other regions, were suspended.

But The Bild newspaper said that six DCOS executives and their aides were disciplined.

The United Nations and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission are probing the auto company over charges that it bribed officials issuing licenses under UN's Oil-for-food program for Saddam Hussein-led Iraq.

Import licenses for Iraq at that time was scarce, as the United Nations had been imposing trade sanctions against the country.

The company's headquarters in Stuttgart did not comment on the suspension of manager, but said it was voluntarily handing over the results of its internal inquiries to the UN and U.S. investigators.

Source: Xinhua