Execs From Johnson & Johnson Face Bribery Probe

DePuy, A Johnson & Johnson Company logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Five executives from the US firm Johnson & Johnson are apparently going to facing a probe in Greece over allegations that a subsidiary company, DePuy, sold orthopedic equipment to Greek hospitals after bribing doctors.

According to a report on Wednesday from Kathimerini, Greek magistrate Spyros Georgouleas is planning to ask for the details of the suspects’ bank accounts as well as if there are possible links to any offshore companies that may have been used to pay a whopping US $16-18 million in bribes to roughly eight Greek doctors as well as several hospital directors. The money, added the same report, was allegedly paid between the periods of 1998-2006.

The report in Kathimerini also noted that in 2011, the same American company agreed to pay US $76.9 million to authorities in the United States in order to settle legal action regarding bribery in Greece, Poland, Romania and Iraq.