Ericsson Employees Summoned by Greek Authorities in Probe

By Matthias Verbergt 

Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson AB said on Sunday that seven of its current and former employees have been served with summons by Greek authorities over allegations of possible corruption.

Ericsson said the unnamed seven are involved in an investigation into a defense deal that former subsidiary Ericsson Microwave Systems completed with Greece in 1999, which included the delivery of an airborne radar system.

Ericsson, which disclosed the probe two years ago, said the current and former employees were recently served with summons in preliminary investigation proceedings by a Greek prosecutor over allegations of possible corruption.

It sold the subsidiary to Saab AB in 2006. Saab declined to comment on Sunday.

Ericsson said it hasn't been contacted by any authority in the matter, and that the seven haven't yet been provided with the full relevant documentation from the investigation or questioned by the Greek prosecutor.

Ericsson said it wouldn't give more details on the matter but would cooperate with authorities.

The statement comes two days after Ericsson confirmed that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission was investigating some of the company's business operations as part of an anticorruption probe related to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Ericsson on Friday said the SEC in March 2013 requested it to provide information on its anticorruption policies and procedures.

Ericsson on Friday declined to give more details on which business practices were being investigated by the SEC, but said it would cooperate fully with authorities.

Write to Matthias Verbergt at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 20, 2016 10:14 ET (14:14 GMT)

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