German company allegedly spied on staff

BONN, Germany, May 29 (UPI) -- German prosecutors have begun to investigate telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom, which allegedly spied on its own staff and journalists, sources said.

Investigators began the investigation last week and searched the company's headquarters in Bonn, Germany, Thursday, Der Spiegel Online reported.

The company may have begun spying on managers and journalists in 2000, when it tried to figure out the source of Financial Times Deutschland reporter Tasso Enzweiler's information.

The company allegedly hired private detectives, who used hidden cameras and examined thousands of phone call connections.

"The assignment came from high up and was discussed with the Telekom executive board," Ralph Kuhn, the head of a Berlin detective agency said.

Former Chief Executive Officers Kai-Uwe Ricke and Ron Sommer have lead the company since 2000. Former Supervisory Board Chair Klaus Zumwinkel may also be implicated. But, current CEO Rene Obermann is cooperating with the investigation, the report said.

But, company spokesman Philipp Schindera told Der Spiegel Online Thursday said he was unaware of allegations running back to 2000. "We are hearing this for the first time. We are not aware of such activities and we don't have any information," Schindera said.