Day 68 in the trial against Arafat Abou-Chaker (46) & Co. The clan boss is said to have demanded millions of euros from Anis “Bushido” Ferchichi (43) for the end of their business – one attempted severe predatory blackmail.
By Karin Hendrich
On Monday, the babysitter of the Ferchichi family is a witness before the regional court. At the same time, however, Bushido himself was led through a court into another room by his bodyguards.
There master roofer Johannes “Joe” B. (55) sat in the dock. Accusation: Violation of the tax code. His company is said to have received more than 350,000 euros in three fake invoices for alleged posters for Bushido’s new album. A promotion that never really existed.
The benefit for the company? Bushido: “Ten percent. Ten percent for nothing.” The “rest” then flowed back in cash, i.e. black, to his then manager Arafat. He himself had no advantage whatsoever from this “tax avoidance business”.
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Bushido bitterly: “But so far I’m the only one who has been prosecuted.” With 135,000 euros by penalty order. In addition, there were back taxes and late payment penalties… But he finally cleaned up his life. “It was painful but liberating.”
Arafat Abou-Chaker, who was also supposed to testify on Monday, relied on his right to refuse information so as not to incriminate himself. The judge: “I then dumped him.”
In the first instance before the district court, Johannes B. was acquitted in 2021. Will it stay that way after the rapper’s incriminating statement? To be continued on Tuesday.