Greek construction firm Aktor denies fraud charge over tenders

Thessaloniki Port Authority SA

24/11/2016 21:38

ATHENS, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Greece's biggest construction 
firm, Aktor, a subsidiary of Ellaktor  HELr.AT , on Thursday 
denied any wrongdoing after a Greek prosecutor charged it with 
fraud over two state infrastructure project tenders launched in 
2007 and 2011. 
    Court officials said the prosecutor, who conducted a 
preliminary investigation, accused Aktor and rival company 
Mochlos of violating competition rules, causing damage to the 
state.  
    The companies are accused of pre-arranging to submit certain 
bids for two projects, one at the Athens railway and another at 
the port of the northern city of Thessaloniki  OLTr.AT , the 
officials said. 
    Aktor said in response, "there wasn't any prearrangement for 
the submission of the offers nor any violation by the 
representatives of Aktor. Most importantly, there is no issue of 
damaging the state."  
    "We are certain that our positions will be confirmed." 
    Mochlos could not immediately be reached for comment. 
    Shares in Ellaktor shed 7.5 percent on Thursday, 
underperforming the broader Greek market  .ATG  which lost 1.4 
percent. 
 
 (Reporting by Constantinos Georgizas and Angeliki Koutantou; 
Editing by Alexandra Hudson) 
 ((angeliki.koutantou@thomsonreuters.com; +30 210 3376436; 
Reuters Messaging: angeliki.koutantou.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: ELLAKTOR TENDERS/