Investigations: SPD candidate Krach under pressure: Suspicion of accepting benefits
Criminal investigations against SPD top candidate Steffen Krach are bursting into the Berlin election campaign. He is going on the offensive. Now the Hanover public prosecutor's office is commenting on the allegations.
The state prosecutor's office in Hannover is investigating Berlin's SPD leading candidate Steffen Krach, among other charges, for suspected benefit receipt in two cases, according to a spokesperson for the authority. Reports from the "Tagesspiegel" and "Berliner Morgenpost" first broke the news. The prosecutor's office also alleges anti-competitive agreements during tender procedures in connection with violations of business secrecy and breach of confidentiality under the Limited Liability Company Act.
The investigations were revealed on Wednesday, with authorities stating that they were probing Krach since September 3rd, concerning his tenure as the Region President of Hannover. Searches were conducted in Krach's offices in Berlin and Hannover, as well as his Berlin residence and the SPD Land Party headquarters in Berlin-Wedding.
His mobile phone was seized. Krach himself dismissed the charges on Thursday, asserting they were baseless, claiming he never accepted private funds and never accepted donations as the SPD's regional representative in Berlin. He stated, "I have nothing to hide." Should investigators need to review his accounts, they are welcome to do so.
The investigations coincide with the Berlin election campaign. On September 20th, the electoral district will be up for re-election. Krach, currently on leave due to his role as the leading SPD candidate, is under scrutiny for these allegations.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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