Germany to toughen anti-corruption law News
Germany to toughen anti-corruption law

[JURIST] Germany will introduce draft legislation tightening anti-corruption law, according to a Der Spiegel report to be published Monday. The move comes on the heels of scandals at Volkswagen AG and Siemens AG [corporate websites] and is intended to increase public prosecutors' power to investigate corruption of a broader range of implicated employees. The law would allow employees of foreign corporations to be indicted in Germany. German Minister of Justice Brigitte Zypries [official profile, in German] will present the law for adoption by the end of the quarter. AFX has more.

In 2005 Volkswagen personnel chief Peter Hartz resigned [JURIST report] in the midst of a criminal investigation alleging two of his former employees to have committed fraud while working for Volkswagen. He was indicted in November 2006 for allegedly paying illegal bonuses [Der Spiegel report] to the former head of the works council and his mistress. Hartz, a close friend of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder [BBC profile], led a government panel that proposed changes to Germany's labor policy in 2002. Siemens AG is currently under investigation by the Nuremberg public prosecutor for possible foreign trade law violations related to its involvement in the United Nations' controversial Iraq Oil-for-Food program [JURIST news archive]. Der Spiegel has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.