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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Alstom denies bribe allegations | Alstom denies bribe allegations |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| French engineering group Alstom has denied that it is being investigated over allegations that it paid bribes to help win overseas contracts. | French engineering group Alstom has denied that it is being investigated over allegations that it paid bribes to help win overseas contracts. |
| Responding to an article in the Wall Street Journal, an Alstom spokesman said the report "was based on hypotheses and speculation". | Responding to an article in the Wall Street Journal, an Alstom spokesman said the report "was based on hypotheses and speculation". |
| "Alstom stresses that no legal procedure has targeted the company in the matter of corruption," he added. | "Alstom stresses that no legal procedure has targeted the company in the matter of corruption," he added. |
| Alstom is alleged to have paid to win contracts in Asia and South America. | Alstom is alleged to have paid to win contracts in Asia and South America. |
| 'Insinuations' | 'Insinuations' |
| The Wall Street Journal alleges that the bribes were paid between 1995 and 2003 from "shell companies" based in Switzerland and neighbouring Liechtenstein. | |
| The article reiterates statements or insinuations which had already appeared several months ago Alstom official | |
| It says the money was then give to people working for Alstom in Singapore, Indonesia, Venezuela and Brazil. | |
| In one specific case, the newspaper alleges that Swiss and Brazilian police have met to discuss suspicions that Alstom paid $6.8m (£3.5m) to help win a $45m contract to expand Sao Paulo's underground network. | |
| The Alstom spokesman added that the Wall Street Journal article simply "reiterates statements or insinuations which had already appeared several months ago in various articles published in Switzerland and Germany". | The Alstom spokesman added that the Wall Street Journal article simply "reiterates statements or insinuations which had already appeared several months ago in various articles published in Switzerland and Germany". |
| He further said that while a unspecified number of people employed by the firm were being questioned by Swiss authorities, they were being interviewed as witnesses in an investigation that did not target Alstom. | He further said that while a unspecified number of people employed by the firm were being questioned by Swiss authorities, they were being interviewed as witnesses in an investigation that did not target Alstom. |
| Alstom makes everything from trains to power stations. | Alstom makes everything from trains to power stations. |
| It enjoys annual revenues of more than 14bn euros ($22m; £11m). | It enjoys annual revenues of more than 14bn euros ($22m; £11m). |