According to the public prosecutor's department of Braunschweig, Peter Hartz, Volkswagen's former emblematic HR manager, acknowledged on October 9th, 2006, during a cross-examination, having paid important illicit money to Klaus Volkert, ex-president of the works council. Mr Hartz, who took an active part in the social reforms of former chancellor Gerhard Schröder, could be subjected to an inquiry at the end of the year. (Ref 061024)
According to the German weekly Der Spiegel (16-10), Mr Hartz would have confessed having paid 200 000 euros under the table every year to the secretary of the work’s council, that is to say two million euros between 1995 and 2005. This special remittance was added to the annual wage of M.Volkert, which was between 280000 and 310000 euros, bonuses included. Questioned by e-europnews, the Braunschweig public prosecutor’s office did not confirm the figures provided by the weekly, but talked about “
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