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In the Mannesmann process has a former Justiziar the statement of the Group of Deutsche Bank chief Josef Ackermann in a central point contradicted. He described the bonus payments to former executives as a reward for their previous benefits.
Dusseldorf - The former head of the Department of shareholdings of Mannesmann, Goetz Mueller, said today in the new edition of the process before the Duesseldorf regional court was the first witness, the premiums were "only a recognition of the services rendered or happened".
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accused Ackermann: Early concerns about the high payments Mueller said, Mannesmann had early doubts about the level of payments. He personally have the sum of around 15 million euros for the former CEO Klaus Esser as "extremely high" felt. "I did not have the feeling that, given the collapse of Mannesmann AG such a premium was necessary," said the 66-year-old. The workforce was this recognition bonus "not to give". Similarly, the accountants KPMG, the Mannesmann books under the microscope were initially "significant concerns" against the awards were presented.
The statementMueller could still great importance. With a similar argument, the Federal Court to acquittals for the six defendants - among them Ackermann - a year ago. The outgoing manager geflossenen to 57 million euros for Mannesmann were "without any benefit ', it noted in the judgement justification for the federal judge. Of these were no incentives for future benefits expected. Special payments, the only belohnenden character would be as inadmissible and "a waste of company assets entrusted to evaluate.
On the other hand, hadAckermann argued that the money was very well served by the Mannesmann takeover battle smoothly on Vodafone to integrate and important executives on board.
statements Mueller began the testimonies in the spectacular economic process, as determined by the planning of the court to the drag into next year. In addition to Ackermann are also Esser, the former IG Metall boss Klaus Zwickel and three other former managers and supervisory boards of infidelity or aid to the accused.
In additionMueller was also senior prosecutor Hans-Otto Sallmann heard the opening of an investigative procedure after an initial charges against Esser in March 2000 had initially rejected. Sallmann said that he had assumed that the display of "annoying small shareholders' come, and the premium given the enormous gains to be appropriate. In addition, he had the testimony of Mannesmann representatives believed that the permit anything right things anyway. Documents on the Supervisory Board decisions, he had not requested.
In December 2000, the prosecutor will still investigation, which ultimately Mannesmann-led process. mik / Reuters