Russian authorities are investigating media reports of corruption over the purchase of Daimler AG cars for government purposes, a Federal Protective Service (FSO) spokesman told RIA Novosti on Friday.
"The inquiry is being held by order of the FSO's chief," he said.
Media reports alleged corruption over the sale of Mercedes vehicles for an FSO department providing security for top officials and high-ranked foreign guests.
Daimler was fined $185 million by a U.S. court earlier in April after admitting to paying tens of millions of dollars of bribes to foreign governments.
The Russian business daily Kommersant said that in 2000-2005 alone, Russian officials received some 5.02 million euros ($6.7 million) and around 80,000 German marks (more than $54,000) as government contract payoffs from the German auto giant, which accounts for 7.8% of the total worth of the contracts signed during that period.
Among the cars delivered to Russia under such contracts were Mercedes for top Russian officials, including the president, the prime minister, top judges, and parliament speakers, respected daily Vedomosti said.
The paper quoted a source close to the country's service providing security to Russian top officials as saying a total of 100 Mercedes were purchased under compromised contracts.
MOSCOW, April 23 (RIA Novosti)
