Reports issued last night and this morning by Germany’s media giants, Der Spiegel and Bild Zeitung, show that Frankfurt Airport is facing another alleged bribery scandal at its Cargo City South handling area.
Frankfurt’s public prosecution office confirmed that raids had been made at the Handling Counts offices in Cargo City South, as well as a further 16 raids at offices and private homes of other
firms in various German cities.
The allegations are that a senior manager of Handling Counts, a 100% Lufthansa Cargo daughter company, has been involved in receiving bribes from companies in return for their receiving lucrative
handling agreements with Handling Counts.
In the “Bild“ report of 19 February it is stated that raids were also made on the offices of Airlog Solutions located in Neu-Isenburg, near Frankfurt airport. Here it is alleged that the
management of Airlog’s mother company, Wisskirchen Logistiks GmbH, had made cash payments to members of Handling Counts management in order to receive lucrative contracts.
Wisskirchen’s management, when asked by CargoForwarder, stated that they are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities and due to running investigations, that they were unable to comment
further on the allegations, which they say are “totally unfounded.”
Lufthansa Cargo, in a statement issued this afternoon (19 February) says: In connection with the public prosecutor’s examination - among others, against an employee of Lufthansa Cargo - that
internal examinations are under way in order to try and reach a speedy clarification and also to determine whether Lufthansa Cargo is among those who allegedly have been damaged by this
affair.
The Lufthansa spokesman admitted that their offices had been searched on 18. February by public prosecution officials in view of the allegations against the Lufthansa Cargo employee and further
that Lufthansa is working in close cooperation with officials on all levels.
John Mc Donagh