Kommunalwahlen Niedersachsen: Kurz vor Wahl: Ermittlungen gegen Hannovers CDU-OB-Kandidat

In the days leading up to the Hannover municipal elections, the state prosecutor's office confirmed investigations against Hannover CDU candidate Peter Karst. Two officials from the Handwerkskammer Hannover are under investigation, with Karst being one of them, according to the office. The German Press Agency reported this information.

The prosecutor's office emphasized that Karst's status as the main business manager of the chamber does not imply personal responsibility, but rather the presumption of innocence. They stated that the suspicion arises from Karst's role as the main business manager of the chamber, which may have led to the withholding and misappropriation of honorarium payments for master preparation courses.

Specifically, the investigation focuses on unpaid social security contributions for around 73 individuals who were simultaneously employed by the Handwerkskammer and another employer. Karst spoke to the press and clarified that these investigations concern employment relationships of employees who worked as honorarium lecturers and instructors in their free time, as well as freelance honorarium lecturers.

He supported the legal examination and stated that if necessary actions arise from the investigation, the appropriate consequences will be taken. According to Karst, the Hannover prosecutor's office conducted the examination at the Handwerkskammer in March under the law to combat undeclared work. The focus was on records of employment relationships, working hours, remuneration, and social security contributions from January 1, 2021.

Karst did not disclose any search of private spaces, but confirmed that investigators were at the Handwerkskammer today. The prosecutor's office stated that two search warrants were issued for properties of the Handwerkskammer in Hannover and Garbsen, but no enforcement has occurred as the Handwerkskammer cooperated and provided all documents voluntarily.

The data has been secured and is being evaluated. Karst accused the Handwerkskammer of having something to do with the election campaign. He stated that in recent days, his campaign posters had been systematically destroyed and multiple election campaign postcards from restaurants had disappeared. These incidents were documented and reported.