Gerichtsprozess: „Spekulation“ – Richter glauben Ex-Wirecard-Chef Braun seine Opferdarstellung nicht

Munich - In the ongoing trial of the decade-long billion-euro fraud at the helm of Wirecard, the presiding judge, Markus Födisch, has declared the defendant Markus Braun's claim of being a victim a mere "speculation". This statement comes after more than three and a half years of legal proceedings. "Despite extensive investigations, nothing has emerged to support this claim," said Födisch.

Braun and his two co-defendants face the possibility of a substantial fine if found guilty. Should the court rule in their favor, they could be required to cough up millions in restitution. The primary source of this potential financial burden is the personal investment company associated with Braun, which is believed to hold nearly 39 million euros.

The prosecution alleges that Braun and his associates falsified billions in transactions on Wirecard's financial statements over the years. These transactions were primarily documented through three so-called "third parties" based in Dubai, Singapore, and the Philippines. These were companies that allegedly processed credit card payments for Wirecard in Asian countries.

However, Födisch stated, "No evidence supports the existence of this third-party business." Braun had repeatedly claimed his innocence. According to the Austrian manager, the third-party transactions were genuine. The substantial profits from these operations were allegedly siphoned off by the real perpetrators, including former sales director Jan Marsalek, without Braun's knowledge.

Despite being held in pre-trial detention since July 2020, Födisch indicated that if the court finds Braun guilty, he would be held responsible for the fine. The trial, which commenced in December 2022, is nearing its climax, with the presiding judge warning the three defendants that in the event of a conviction, they could be required to pay a substantial sum of money.

For Braun, this amount amounts to approximately 39 million euros. His co-defendants could face the seizure of six million euros and 600,000 euros, respectively.