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Berlin Brandenburg airport corruption 'whistleblower poisoned' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
German prosecutors are investigating allegations of grievous bodily harm, amid reports that an engineer working on Berlin's troubled new airport was poisoned. | |
German media say the man was a whistleblower in a corruption scandal involving an airport construction firm. | |
He was said to have been sick for months after his coffee was poisoned. | |
Berlin Brandenburg airport was due to open in 2011 but has been dogged by problems. | |
'Deadly substance' | 'Deadly substance' |
Prosecutors refused to give details about the case, saying only that "we're investigating because of a suspicion of grievous bodily harm", dpa news agency reports. | |
Bild am Sonntag newspaper said that the engineer's coffee had been mixed with a "deadly substance" in 2015, as investigators were looking into allegations of bribes handed to airport officials. | |
When he collapsed at work, his illness was initially blamed on circulation problems but a medical report stated several days later that it was caused by poison, German media said. | When he collapsed at work, his illness was initially blamed on circulation problems but a medical report stated several days later that it was caused by poison, German media said. |
The man, aged around 50, was off sick for three months. | |
No suspects have been identified, officials told Bild. | |
Four people were charged last year as part of the investigation into construction firm Imtech Deutschland. | Four people were charged last year as part of the investigation into construction firm Imtech Deutschland. |
Imtech, given the task of overhauling the airport's fire and smoke detection system, filed for bankruptcy in August. | Imtech, given the task of overhauling the airport's fire and smoke detection system, filed for bankruptcy in August. |
The airport, also known as Willy Brandt airport, is due to replace the ageing hubs at Tempelhof, Tegel and Schoenefeld but has run over-budget by billions of euros. | |
Construction at the airport, south of Schoenefeld, began in 2006 but repeated delays have pushed the opening date well beyond the original 2011 deadline. | |
Airport officials had hoped to open the airport in 2017, however latest indications suggest 2019 is a more likely date. | Airport officials had hoped to open the airport in 2017, however latest indications suggest 2019 is a more likely date. |
A former chief planner on the site, Dieter Faulenbach da Costa, told Berliner Morgenpost last week he doubted the airport would ever open. | A former chief planner on the site, Dieter Faulenbach da Costa, told Berliner Morgenpost last week he doubted the airport would ever open. |
Berlin Brandenburg airport is co-owned by the city of Berlin and the state of Brandenburg, as well as the German government. | Berlin Brandenburg airport is co-owned by the city of Berlin and the state of Brandenburg, as well as the German government. |