ThyssenKrupp freezes partnership with Ganor
The German conglomerate halts relationship with Israeli representative Miki Ganor as a result of the ongoing police investigation against Ganor for corruption; conglomerate conducts separate investigation, finding 'no concrete indications of corruption.'
"Upon the publication of the suspicions, we immediately suspended all business relations with Mr. Ganor until the completion of the criminal investigation by the Israeli authorities," the company said in a statement.
"Based on the investigative measures we were able to carry out, we found no concrete indications of corruption—neither with regard to submarine projects, nor in connection with the procurement of corvettes. However, these investigation results are explicitly provisional," the statement went on to say.
Ganor, who has represented the company in Israel since 2009, was arrested last week on suspicion of bribery. Police are hoping Ganor will become a state witness in the affair in order to implicate other senior defense officials in corruption.
As revealed in Yedioth Ahronoth by Yossi Yehoshua on Tuesday, the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Germany and Israel regarding the procurement of three submarines has been postponed due to the investigation.
German newspaper Handelsblatt reported Tuesday night the last submarine deal inked between Germany and Israel a decade ago could have been influenced by corruption as well.
The paper is in possession of internal documents from a ThyssenKrupp partner that was involved in the construction of submarines in the city of Kiel in 2004. The documents raise suspicion unusual payments were made in connection to the sale of two submarines to Israel. The payments were listed as being "usability expenses."
ThyssenKrupp declined to comment.
