Nepotism accusations target Lotto Saxony-Anhalt
The local government in Saxony-Anhalt wants to form a committee to investigate potential nepotism in Lotto Toto GmbH's distribution of funds. This comes after a criminal complaint against their managing director, Maren Sieb, was filed by the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Sieb denies the accusations, but former AfD politicians have accused her of providing funding for institutions in exchange for advertising contracts. This could explain why Jan Wenzel Schmidt, a current member of the Lotto Advisory Board, was twice rejected for management positions. The committee, set to include twelve members, will examine funding distribution and personnel appointments in more detail. Some critics believe a committee is not necessary since the case is already being investigated by the State Court of Auditors and the public prosecutor's office. All parties except the AfD abstained from the vote on the committee, citing concerns over its efficiency and potential bias. The AfD claims that Sieb provided lottery money to organizations which then awarded contracts to her private advertising agency, ISA i motion. The agency was co-founded by Sieb and managed by her partner since 2012. They've accused her of being involved in a "potentially criminal triangular transaction" involving fraud, embezzlement, and corruption. Despite these allegations, Sieb maintains that she has always been transparent and that ISA i motion continued to provide services to the same organizations when she joined Lotto Toto. The Ministry of Transport's Chairman of the Lotto Supervisory Board, Thomas Webel, recently supported Sieb's statements. Currently, one of the differences between the two sides is the level of influence Sieb has over its distribution of funds. Sieb claims she has limited say, while the AfD alleges that all donations over 15,000 euros must be approved by a 14-member advisory board. The investigation is ongoing.
In order to investigate allegations of nepotism in the allocation of funds at Lotto Toto GmbH in Saxony-Anhalt, local parliament members plan to set up a committee of inquiry. This follows a criminal complaint filed against the managing director, Maren Sieb, by the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) in mid-June.
Sieb, who has denied these accusations repeatedly, is believed to have provided lottery funds in exchange for advertising contracts for her own company, ISA i motion, which she established with her partner in 2012. Former AfD members André Poggenburg and Jan Wenzel Schmidt say that such deals happened multiple times between 2012 and 2018. Due to a minority right claim from the AfD, the Magdeburg Administrative Court found in their favor.
The committee, composed of twelve members and chaired by the SPD, plans to investigate not just funding distribution but also the hiring process at the lottery company. There are rumors that at least three employees of Lotto Toto were formerly employed at SAW radio station, where Maren Sieb used to work.
Many politicians, including some from the CDU, the Greens, the Left Party, and the SPD, voice concerns about this committee's effectiveness. They argue that an ongoing investigation by the State Court of Auditors and the public prosecutor's office makes the committee redundant.
However, the AfD continues to maintain that Sieb is guilty of a "potentially criminal triangular transaction" involving fraud, embezzlement, and corruption. They ask for a comprehensive review of the undistributed funds.
There are accusations that affect various well-known organizations, initiatives, and charities related to the ISA i motion advertising agency. These include the German Red Cross, the Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband, the Stendaler Tafel, and the Volkssolidarität aid organization. The AfD alleges that private ties to lottery boss Maren Sieb can be traced for each of these entities. The executive director's connections are dubious and suggest a possible conflict of interest among politics, organizations, and favored individuals.
In perspective, Lotto Toto produces approximately 200 million euros annually in Saxony-Anhalt, a state with a population of about 2.21 million people. It is no secret that a significant portion of this revenue is earmarked for charitable purposes. Each year, approximately 6 million euros are donated in this capacity within the state. However, the specific distribution of these funds is yet to be disclosed.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
