US probes Mercedes over bribery allegation

The investigation by the US Justice Department comes on the back of a probe initiated late last year by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The probe was triggered by a former Chrysler accountant who alleged in a lawsuit that the company kept dozens of secret bank accounts to bribe foreign officials. Meanwhile, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal, German authorities are also engaged in inquiries related to the bribery issue. The federal officials from Daimler and Mercedes' home country are investigating the recent suicide of Rudi Kornmayer, managing director of a Mercedes plant in Nigeria. Sources close to the case say Kornmayer left a note referring to the bribery case, although other reports are conflicting. DaimlerChrysler has said that it is co-operating with the US investigations. The US/German car maker has also revealed that it has identified "accounts, transactions and related payments that are subject to special scrutiny" and that it is voluntarily sharing information with investigators. The probes are believed to include the global vehicle manufacturer's facilities in Africa and Latin America.