Saipem to Stand Trial in Algeria Corruption Case

A Milan judge on Friday ruled that Italy's Saipem and five people should stand trial on charges the oil services group paid bribes to win contracts in Algeria, legal sources said.

The judge cleared both Saipem's parent company Eni and Eni's former chief executive Paolo Scaroni in the case.

Among those sent to trial on charge of international corruption are three former top executives at Saipem and two Algerian intermediaries, the sources said.

Saipem was not immediately available for a comment. Both Saipem and Eni have in the past denied any wrongdoing.

Prosecutors allege that Saipem paid intermediaries 197 million euros to bag contracts worth 8 billion euros with Algeria's state-owned Sonatrach.

Under Italian law, companies are responsible for the actions of their managers and can be fined if found guilty.

The trial is set to start on Dec. 2.

(Reporting by Emilio Parodi)