A trial for years of fraud involving millions in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy began on Friday before the Berlin district court. Ten managers and entrepreneurs (42 to 71 years old) are accused.
According to the indictment, the damage amounts to more than four million euros. Almost one million euros is said to be the mastermind Dr. Achim S. (71) collected. The accusation: gang-like and commercial subsidy fraud.
Since 2010, the Federal Ministry has been running a funding program with the aim of increasing the innovative strength and competitiveness of small and medium-sized companies.
The federal government covers half of the costs for consultants if the companies pay the other half. This is said to have been the purest money printing machine for the now accused for years!
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The federal government paid and paid, although according to the indictment there was no consultation at all!
They said they operated “a covert system” with bogus bills from 2011 to 2016. Loud accusation are the criminal “crimes and misdemeanors”, the managers face up to ten years imprisonment. The main defendant is accused of 220 cases.
It took an hour and a half to read the indictment. The damage amounts to 4,070,400 euros. 30 process days are planned.
Verdict: September 23.