Greek media reported in December 2019 that an Athens court found 22 people guilty in the Siemens and OTE kickback trial and imposed sentences of up to 15 years.

Why this label

The 2019 report described the first-instance outcome over OTE contract 8002 signed in 1997^S4. It said several defendants were acquitted on time-barred bribery counts and others convicted of money laundering^S4. On 26 September 2022 the Five-Member Appeals Court for Felonies in Athens ruled on the appeals^S5. A report citing the Athens News Agency says 20 of the 22 defendants were found not guilty of money laundering, or saw prosecution ended for acts up to 2002 as time-barred^S5. One former executive did not appeal and his 15-year sentence stands, and no verdict issued for one who died^S5. The report's headline overstates the limitation ground. The 2019 picture no longer holds.

Current procedural position

First-instance convictions in late 2019^S4. Overturned for 20 of 22 defendants by the Athens Five-Member Appeals Court for Felonies on 26 September 2022^S5. One first-instance sentence stands without appeal^S5. No later step was found in searches for this review.

Evidence score: 64 of 100

The score grades how well the record establishes this assessment. It is not a score of Siemens AG. Score = source authority + directness + corroboration + procedural accuracy + currency + reproducibility.

Timeline

1. 1997OTE and Siemens sign contract 8002^S4
2. 2 December 2019First-instance sentences reported^S4
3. 26 September 2022Appeal court acquits or ends prosecution for 20 of 22 defendants^S5

Related cases

• Greek prosecution of former Siemens, Siemens Hellas and OTE executives and intermediariesFive-Member Appeals Court for Felonies, Athens. Criminal. Not published.Stage: Appeal decided on 26 September 2022. No further step found.
  • 2 December 2019 First-instance sentences of up to 15 years reported^S4
  • 26 September 2022 Appeal court acquits or ends prosecution as time-barred for 20 of 22 defendants^S5

Revision history

• 25 October 2026 Assessment first published with label Outdated.

Have a record that changes this assessment? See corrections and responses.

Sources

1. S5Tier C Υπόθεση Siemens: Aθώοι όλοι οι κατηγορούμενοι λόγω παραγραφήςPowerGame.gr (newsroom, citing ANA-MPA). Press report. 26 September 2022.Greek newsroom report citing the Athens News Agency on the appeal ruling. Its headline says all were acquitted on limitation grounds, but its text describes a mix of limitation and merits rulings. The fact rests on the national news agency.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
2. S4Tier C Court hands down maximum sentence for several found guilty in Siemens caseEthnos. Press report. 2 December 2019.Reports the first-instance sentences under a newsroom byline. Its account was overtaken by the 2022 appeal ruling.Link working, checked 25 October 2026

Other claims about Siemens AG

• Partly supported85
  US authorities said in December 2008 that Siemens paid about US$1.4 billion in bribes to government officials around the world.
  Regulator statement, 15 December 20085 records citedBribery
• Supported94
  The US Justice Department said in December 2008 that Siemens would pay US$800 million to US authorities and about EUR 395 million in Munich.
  Regulator statement, 15 December 20083 records citedBribery
• Supported67
  Siemens said in April 2012 that its settlement with the Greek state, ratified by the Hellenic Parliament, would reach about EUR 270 million.
  Company statement, 5 April 20122 records citedBribery