Top Greek court to rule on Siemens settlement

The Council of State plenary is to rule on whether a 2012 out-of-court settlement between Greece and Siemens over the German industrial giant’s bribing of officials is legal or not.

A group called “Greek Taxpayers” had appealed against the deal and the case was due to be heard by the fourth section of Greece’s top administrative court.

However, due to the seriousness of the case, the fourth sections has referred it to the full assembly of judges.

The coalition government at the time agreed that all charges not relating to bribery would be dropped in return for Siemens paying 90 million euros, investing 100 million euros in its Greek branch, Siemens Hellas, and spending another 60 million euros to build a new factory employing up to 700 people.