Erbil, June 23 (Aknews) - Italian companies Eni and Saipem are to be probed for alleged bribery in their oil dealings in Iraq and Kuwait, claims the Italian press.
Newspaper, Corriere della Sera, quoted Italian government investigators saying Eni managers are suspected of taking kickbacks for their development of Zubair field in Iraq as well as for work in the Jurassic field in northern Kuwait.
It is claimed that Italian engineering and construction companies bribed Eni and Saipem executives in order to secure subcontracts in Iraq and Kuwait.
Eni and Saipem were quoted by Reuters yesterday that they are only being investigated for responsibility in "supervisory failures". The companies "believe that their position will be shortly cleared, since they are offended parties in respect of the illicit conduct under investigation", the statement said.
Eni won contracts for the oilfields in Iraq and Kuwait last year.
The investigation began six months ago and stemmed from allegations made by Mario Reali, a former Eni executive who worked for the company in Russia, judicial sources say.
Saipem vice-president Nerio Capanna, Eni manager Diego Braghi are among those being investigated.
According to Italy Global Reach newspaper yesterday Eni and Saipem last year paid $350m in the US to resolve a bribery case linked to liquefied natural gas contracts.
© AK News 2011
