Prosecutors in Germany investigate three bankers over financing of brothel

Prosecutors in Cologne, Germany are investigating three bankers from Volksbank Koeln Bonn over suspicions of bribery related to financing one of Europe's largest brothels, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter. The bank employee, identified as board member Juergen Neutgens, and two others at the bank are being investigated, though their identities have not been confirmed. Neutgens' lawyer stated that his client denies any wrongdoing.

The investigation centers on a €5-million loan provided in 2021 for the purchase of a 12-storey property by a Chinese investor. The property housed the Pascha brothel, which went insolvent during the COVID pandemic lockdown. The loan was initially made after the brothel faced financial difficulties. The Volksbank has hired an independent law firm to investigate the deal, looking into whether a board member may have personally benefited from the transaction.

In addition to the bank's internal investigation, the probe launched by Cologne prosecutors is broader, encompassing allegations of bribery, bribes in business dealings, and breach of trust. The bank maintains that it is operating under the presumption of innocence for the individuals under investigation. The bank's decision to conduct its own internal inquiry followed media reports about the loan.

Germany's top financial regulator, BaFin, has also questioned the bank over the financing, though specifics remain undisclosed.