MENA House: Egypt and the Mercedes Benz Bribery Case

Daimler AG, makers of Mercedes Benz automobiles, was charged on 23 March with violating US bribery laws by "generously" showering foreign officials with gifts of luxury cars and large cash sums to close off business deals.

Daimler plans to pay $185 million to settle charges by the US Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission while its German and Russian units plan to plead guilty to the criminal charges.

At least states are allegedly involved in a long-standing practice of receiving bribes from Daimler, including Russia, China, Turkey, Nigeria, Iraq and Egypt. Official documentation filed in the US court includes evidence of an armored car given to an official in Turkmenistan and another to a Liberian official.

So where does Egypt come into this?

On 13 June, Attorney General Abdel Meguid Mahmoud requested "more accurate " information from US authorities regarding the Daimler AG case. Whilst there is widespread discussion that an Egyptian official received bribes, there has been no official documentation or evidence to prove the allegations.

On Tuesday, the editor-in-chief of Al Masry Al Youm, Magdi Galad, boldly stated on national television that he knew the identity of the Egyptian "senior official" who received bribes from Daimler.  He added that if he publishes the information he has, he would be put in prison.

Galad's statement was made as security sources said that the documents which could have aided in the identification of the Egyptian official involved in the bribery have "disappeared".

Galad reassured the public that when the official document is "found", the nation will find out who the mystery man is.

And so we wait a bit longer....