Siemens AG

On 15 December 2008 Siemens AG and three subsidiaries pleaded guilty in the United States to FCPA internal controls and books and records charges^S1. The SEC settled civil charges, with Siemens neither admitting nor denying them^S2. Siemens paid US$800 million to US authorities and about EUR 395 million to the Munich prosecutor^S1. The SEC alleged at least 4,283 payments worth about US$1.4 billion^S2. In April 2012 Siemens said it had settled with Greece for about EUR 270 million^S3. A first-instance court in Athens imposed long prison terms in the OTE case in December 2019^S4. On 26 September 2022 the appeal court acquitted most defendants or found the acts time-barred^S5.

Also known as: Siemens
Headquarters: Germany
Records from: United States, Germany, Greece
Current status: Operating industrial engineering group based in Munich^S3. The US criminal and SEC matters were resolved in December 2008^S1^S2. In Greece the company settled with the state in April 2012^S3, and an Athens appeal court ended the OTE contract 8002 case for 20 of 22 defendants on 26 September 2022^S5. No 2025 or 2026 development was found.

Scope. This record covers the 2008 US and Munich resolutions and the Greek OTE contract 8002 case. It does not cover Siemens Healthineers, Siemens Energy or other Siemens-named companies, and it does not cover Greek proceedings beyond the OTE case.

Claims assessed

4 claims. Scores grade the evidence for each claim, not the organization.

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
Outdated64
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.
Press report, 2 December 20194 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

Cases and proceedings

United States v. Siemens AG and three subsidiariesUS District Court for the District of Columbia (Judge Richard J. Leon). Criminal. Not published in the release read.Stage: Guilty pleas entered and fines imposed. Concluded.
- 15 December 2008 Siemens AG pleads guilty to internal controls and books and records counts and agrees to a US$448.5 million fine^S1
Securities and Exchange Commission v. Siemens AGUS Securities and Exchange Commission. Civil. Not published in the release read.Stage: Settled by consent judgment without admission or denial. Concluded.
- 15 December 2008 Siemens consents to a court order for US$350 million in disgorgement^S2
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

Responses on record

Siemens AG, 5 April 2012, on Siemens said in April 2012 that its settlement with the Greek state, ratified by the Helle...
Siemens said it was committed going forward to full compliance with sound corporate principles. It made no admission of past misconduct.^S3

Revision history

25 October 2026 Profile and 4 assessments first published. Records checked to 25 October 2026.

Source records

S1Tier A Siemens AG and Three Subsidiaries Plead Guilty to Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Violations and Agree to Pay $450 Million in Combined Criminal FinesUS Department of Justice. Regulator press release. 15 December 2008.Supports the pleas, the charges, the amounts and the split of payments. It does not cover the Greek proceedings.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
S2Tier A SEC Charges Siemens AG for Engaging in Worldwide BriberyUS Securities and Exchange Commission. Regulator press release. 15 December 2008.States the SEC allegations and the settlement without admission or denial. Its figures are allegations, not findings.
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
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
S3Tier B Siemens and the Hellenic Republic reach a settlement agreement and mark a new beginningSiemens AG. Company statement. 5 April 2012.Company account of the Greek settlement and its parts. It contains no admission and is not an official Greek record.Link working, checked 25 October 2026