German prosecutors have charged a former top-ranking Siemens AG manager with breach of trust for his alleged role in a widespread corruption scandal at the Munich-based industrial conglomerate. Anton Winkler, a spokesman for Munich prosecutors, says charges had been brought against the ex-head of finance for Siemens' communications branch, Michael Kutschenreuter.
Evidence began to surface in 2007 and the company has since acknowledged dubious payments to secure business around the world of up to euro1.3 billion (US $1.82 billion).