Paris: Between Wednesday and Friday, police in France, Spain, and the Netherlands searched the offices of French military equipment provider Thales as part of a corruption probe, a judicial source told Reuters on Saturday.
A spokesperson for Thales confirmed the searches to Reuters but provided no further details, stating only that the company is cooperating with authorities.
The judicial source confirmed a report by French news channel BFMTV, stating that the searches were part of two different investigations.
One investigation, initiated in 2016, concerns suspected corruption of a foreign public official, criminal conspiracy, and money laundering related to the sale of submarines and the construction of a naval base in Brazil.
Also Read | Indian Navy Takes Center Stage at RIMPAC 2024 with INS Shivalik
The second investigation, opened in June 2023, involves suspected corruption and influence peddling, criminal conspiracy, and money laundering connected to the sale of military and civilian equipment abroad.
“Thales points out that it strictly complies with national and international regulations,” the Thales spokesperson stated. “The company has developed and implemented a global compliance program that meets the highest industry standards.”
Investigations are still ongoing.
