Deutsche Telekom seeks damages

Deutsche Telekom AG, Europe's biggest phone company, is seeking damages from former Chairman Klaus Zumwinkel over his role in the alleged spy scandal at the company.

Lawyers for Deutsche Telekom sent Zumwinkel a statement of claims, Andreas Middel, a spokesman for the company, said in a telephone interview. The news was reported earlier by magazine Der Spiegel.

Bonn prosecutors are looking into allegations that Deutsche Telekom hired a company to study phone records of journalists, company executives and supervisory board members suspected of news leaks. Prosecutors searched offices of Deutsche Telekom and its T-Mobile unit last year.