From the BZ editorial team
The public prosecutor’s office is now investigating ex-RBB director Patricia Schlesinger (61) on suspicion of infidelity and acceptance of benefits. In addition to the luxury furnishings of her office and official work lunches with the Berlin police chief, the next scandal is knocking at the door.
► “Business Insider” (like BZ belongs to Axel Springer SE) reports that Schlesinger could also have treated himself to a private luxury trip to London at the expense of the fee payers.
It is explicitly about the “Sheriffs Ball” 2021 in the British capital – there the two “sheriffs” of the city welcome around 400 people from all over the world to a glittering ball in the historic Guildhall town hall.
Expensive pleasure: The ticket for the ball costs around 250 pounds (296 euros).
It is an exclusive party, “completely in the spirit of the wild 1920s”. According to Business Insider, Schlesinger was greeted by the “Gatsby Girls,” who later performed a cabaret show with the “Piccadilly Dance Orchestra.” For the reception, the guests were served champagne cocktails and canapés.
From an e-mail exchange that is available to Business Insider, it is clear that the trip to London last September was an excursion by Schlesinger with her husband and friends from northern Germany. “While her network buddies used private e-mail accounts, Schlesinger had her office staff organize the trip, so she handled the trip on business,” according to the business side.
︎ Schlesinger herself does not want to say anything about her trip to London: “In view of the ongoing investigations by the public prosecutor, we are currently not providing any further information on processes affecting Patricia Schlesinger’s administration,” said RBB.
It remains unclear what the official nature of the trip is. An e-mail with a request to pay the price of the ticket for the “Sheriff’s Ball” ended up in the director’s office. Whether the RBB paid for the ticket: unclear.
Attorney General determined
The Berlin public prosecutor’s office has taken over the investigation into the affair surrounding the resigned RBB director Patricia Schlesinger (61).
This was announced by a spokesman for the authorities on Thursday on request. A spokesman for the authority said on Thursday that the takeover was due to the importance of the matter. However, he did not provide any further information. The public prosecutor’s office had started investigations because of the initial suspicion of infidelity and acceptance of benefits.
According to the authority, these are directed against Schlesinger, her husband and the resigned RBB chairman of the board of directors and chief trade fair controller Wolf-Dieter Wolf. The online medium “Business Insider” got the case rolling at the end of June. It’s about alleged nepotism and conspicuous privileges for the director.
The core question is whether the former head of the station and Wolf could have treated each other too laxly in the event of a possible collision of professional and private interests. Both rejected allegations. Schlesinger’s husband received orders from the state-owned Messe Berlin. An external investigation is currently underway at a law firm. Results are not yet available.
Schlesinger resigned as RBB director on Sunday. A few days earlier, she had already resigned from the ARD presidency after numerous allegations were made against her regarding her conduct of office. (DPA/bw)