11 | December | 2014 | STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA

A German defense and auto parts firm says it is paying a fine of nearly 37.1 million euros ($45.8 million) over allegations that a company representative in Greece made improper payments during arms deals in the country.

Rheinmetall AG said Wednesday that the payment by its Rheinmetall Defence Electronics division will end legal proceedings over the alleged «unauthorized payments.» It didn’t elaborate.

The fine was imposed by prosecutors in Bremen, where the subsidiary is based. Rheinmetall says the division was accused of «failing to detect and prevent suspicious payments to sales partners due to inadequate internal controls.”

Rheinmetall shares closed 2 percent lower in Frankfurt at 34.70 euros.

source: ekathimerini.com

Greek anarchist and convicted robber Nikos Romanos has ended a hunger strike after parties agreed on an amendment that will allow him to attend on-campus classes while wearing an electronic bracelet, Kathimerini understands.

Romanos had been on hunger strike since November 10 over authorities’ refusal to grand him an educational leave to attend classes at a Greek technical college (TEI). He stopped receiving liquids on Wednesday morning.

According to the amendment submitted Wednesday by Greek Justice Minister Haralambos Athanasiou, prisoners will be allowed to visit campus while wearing a monitoring bracelet, but only after they have successfully completed a third of their first semester via distance learning.

A Supreme Court prosecutor on Tuesday rejected an appeal by Romanos against an earlier court decision to deny his appeal for study furlough from prison.

Romanos and five others were given jail sentences of 15 to 16 years in October for their part in an armed robbery in Velvento, northern Greece, in February 2013. All were cleared of being part of the urban guerrilla group Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire.

source: ekathimerini.com