Daimler taps German former top judge as ombudsman

[February 02, 2012]  BERLIN (AP) -- Daimler AG has appointed a former German supreme court judge as an ombudsman whom potential whistle-blowers can approach.

Daimler announced Winfried Hassemer's appointment as an "independent neutral intermediary" on Thursday.

It adds to an anti-corruption drive following Daimler's 2010 agreement on $185 million in civil and criminal payments to U.S. authorities over bribes paid to win sales in various countries.

A year ago, Daimler tapped another former supreme court judge, Christine Hohmann-Dennhardt, as its integrity officer -- a newly created post.

Hohmann-Dennhardt says Hassemer's appointment expands "the possibilities for external and internal whistleblowers to contact us confidentially and if desired also anonymously, and to report any breaches of rules and regulations."

[Associated Press]

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