Prosecution service dismisses bribery claim against DONG Energy

The prosecution service in Stralsund in Northern Germany has now confirmed in writing to DONG Energy that they will be dropping their enquiry into the allegation that DONG Energy supposedly offered a bribe to the mayor of the town of Lubmin in Northern Germany.

”We are extremely pleased that the prosecution service is making its position so clear. We are delighted that we can now finally put this case behind us and move on. I am particularly pleased on behalf of the employees concerned, for whom the allegations have been extremely unpleasant,” says Anders Eldrup, DONG Energy’s CEO.

DONG Energy has been exploring the possibilities of building a power station in the municipality of Lubmin in Northern Germany since 2006. In connection with a TV programme about the project, Lubmin’s mayor, Klaus Kühnemann, claimed that a DONG Energy employee offered him a bribe at the beginning of December 2007 in connection with a public meeting. Two viewers chose to report the case to the prosecution service. It is these cases that the German authorities have now declined to pursue, partly after having asked the mayor, Klaus Kühnemann, to give an account of his statements.. The mayor has subsequently withdrawn his statement.

An internal enquiry carried out for DONG Energy by Oluf Engell, lawyer, of the law firm of Hjejle Gersted Mogensen also concluded, on 7 January 2008, that there is no plausible basis supporting the allegations concerning bribery.

The prosecution service has also decided to discontinue the inquiry in connection with an allegation made against DONG Energy’s director of the Greifswald-project at the end of March 2008. According to the allegation, the project director allegedly gave false information in an information brochure.

For further information, contact:

Media Relations
Louise Münter
+45 9955 9662

Prosecution service dismisses bribery claim against DONG Energy