FRANKFURT (AP) -- German truckmaker and industrial company MAN AG said Wednesday it has launched an internal investigation into some payments at its truck and bus division from 2002-2005 after prosecutors began their own probe this week.
Munich-based MAN, famous for its trucks and diesel motors, said it wanted to help get to the bottom of allegations and to reveal any potential misconduct by employees.
"There are grounds to suspect that the relevant regulations in force were breached when commission payments were paid between 2002 and 2005," MAN said in a statement late Wednesday, without elaborating.
On Tuesday, prosecutors searched company offices across Germany, claiming MAN was suspected of paying millions in bribes in exchange for deals to sell and lease trucks and buses to customers in Germany and internationally.
Prosecutors said they suspected that between 2002 and 2005, illegal commissions of about €1 million ($1.33 million) in Germany and several million euros in other countries were paid out.
German media reports have put the payments outside Germany at around €15 million, although a MAN spokesman would not confirm the figure.
Shares of MAN closed down 0.4 percent at €49.02 in Frankfurt.