Wal-Mart says internal probe continues as newspaper reports new details of Mexico bribes

MEXICO CITY – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. says it continues an internal investigation into allegations that its Mexico subsidiary paid bribes to get stores built and will co-operate with any investigations by authorities.

The company is responding to a new report by The New York Times saying 19 store sites across Mexico were the target of Wal-Mart bribes.

Among them is a store near Teotihuacan, the site of the famous pyramids outside Mexico City.

The Times says that Wal-Mart de Mexico paid more than $200,000 to circumvent zoning and other laws preserving archaeological sites to get the store built in 2004.

A Wal-Mart statement Tuesday says the Teotihuacan store is part of the company investigation that began about a year ago.

The Times first reported on allegations of Wal-Mart bribery last April.