Trial for Corruption in the Higher Regional Court - Senior civil servant possibly involved in bribery incident due to financial struggles?
Since the past Thursday, senior retired civil servant Michael F. (aged 69) has been before the Gera Regional Court, facing charges of bribery and misappropriation of funds.
Prior to his retirement in the summer of 2019, F. served as the head of department at the Higher Regional Court, making crucial decisions related to budget, personnel, and procurement matters. However, the prosecutor's office asserts that around 2012, F. found himself in a web of bribery that later surfaced in 2019.
F., who had financial difficulties due to unsuccessful real estate investments, resorted to acquiring private loans from his acquaintances. Some of these individuals, including Boris K. (41) and Daniel R. (47), were implicated in the scam.
F. allegedly organised contracts for the Higher Regional Court, finding favor with these people by offering them money on loan. This was done without adhering to the required tendering procedures, resulting in considerable additional costs to the state - upwards of several hundred thousand euros.
Sports manager Boris K., a friend of F. from FC Carl Zeiss Jena, allegedly managed to accumulate a staggering 1.1 million euros from the state coffers through the placement of temporary student workers. It is alleged that by 2016, this corrupt relationship had extended to Daniel R., who earned an estimated 220,000 euros from his services and consulting on occupational health and safety.
Interestingly, Michael F., whose salary as a civil servant was fairly decent, misused his position for a mere 30,000 euros!
Via his attorney, Peter Tuppat, F. described the accusations as unfounded: "My client is shocked by the allegations."
When Judge Uwe Tonndorf denied F.'s request to halt the main hearing, legal representatives Heide Sandkuhl raised some concerns. "As long as the separate investigations against Steffen Kaufmann, the former president of the Higher Regional Court, have not yet been concluded, it is challenging to meaningfully categorize this case."
In a twist, the later President of the Thuringian Constitutional Court—who was F.'s immediate supervisor at the time—is said to have approved these contracts as well.
The trial will pick up again on May 31, with a further 33 hearings scheduled until December 20, 2024.
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Source: symclub.org
