Siemens corruption probe extended to power unit

MUNICH, Germany, April 14 (Reuters) - German prosecutors have begun investigating suspected bribery at Siemens's (SIEGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) power-transmission division, expanding the scope of what is already the country's biggest-ever corruption probe.

A spokesman for the prosecutor's office said on Monday the investigation, which until now has mainly centred on the company's communications unit, had been extended to the former Power Transmission and Distribution unit and its then manager.

Uriel Sharef, who ran the PTD unit before a reorganisation at the conveyor belts to X-ray machines group, was not immediately reachable for comment.

Siemens is being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice in the United States as well as by German prosecutors for suspected bribes that may top a billion euros ($1.6 billion).

The company has already been fined 201 million euros by a German court and could be banned from U.S. government tenders. A trial of the suspected ringleaders at its once-mighty communications unit begins in late May.

Siemens has put new internal compliance procedures in place since the investigations began more than a year ago, as well as replacing its chief executive and chairman, who have not been accused of any wrong-doing.

It has put the total of "suspect payments" booked as fees paid to consultants over years at 1.3 billion euros and has estimated the affair has cost it 1.6 billion euros so far.

Munich prosecutors reiterated on Monday that Heinrich von Pierer, a former long-serving chief executive at Siemens who resigned as chairman a year ago, was not under investigation. (Reporting by Jens Hack; Editing by Quentin Bryar)