By Michael Sauerbier
But RBB cannot claim back the money from its ex-boss, broadcaster lawyers found out.
Scandal director Patricia Schlesinger (61) received more than 350,000 euros a year from RBB. Without the necessary resolutions of the board of directors, a legal team determined.
Two lawyers from the Lutz/Abel law firm presented their test results to the Broadcasting Council on Thursday. They first examined business meals and trips as well as Schlesinger’s company car. And her employment contracts, which she concluded with her friend and head of the board of directors, Wolf-Dieter Wolf. The verdict: devastating!
RBB boss Katrin Vernau and Broadcasting Council boss Ralf Roggenbuck wanted the end of the director monarchy Photo: Britta Pedersen/dpa
“There was no administrative board resolution for the first contract,” said lawyer Nina Rossi. These deficiencies result in the nullity of the contracts.”
That’s why the broadcaster was able to fire Schlesinger without notice. But don’t ask for her salary back. Because: “The payments were not without legal basis,” said the lawyer. The director had worked. But how?
“Ms. Schlesinger systematically violated RBB guidelines,” Rossi stated. At least one “official meal” at the station’s expense was private, as was a trip to London with her husband on an RBB bill.
“No large sums of money, but an unjust enrichment,” said lawyer Henning Abraham. The public prosecutor’s office decides on this.
Schlesinger’s company car was also used by her husband for private trips. But: According to the contract he was allowed to do that! Abraham: “Things were considered normal here that are not normal when viewed from the outside.”
Lawyers presented the first results of the investigation to the RBB broadcasting council on Thursday Photo: Britta Pedersen/dpa
Schlesinger’s successor, Katrin Vernau, now wants to end the intendant monarchy and the board of directors want to make decisions together. The lawyers are now examining the expensive consultancy contracts for the new RBB building.