The defense lawyers for star chef Alfons Schuhbeck, who is accused of tax evasion, see “doubts and inconsistencies” in the allegations against their client. That said Schuhbeck’s lawyer Sascha König on Wednesday before the district court in Munich I.
“It may turn out at the end of the process that Mr. Schuhbeck is not the perpetrator, but the victim himself, because not only the tax authorities, but first and foremost he was cheated.”
The public prosecutor accuses the 73-year-old Schuhbeck of using a computer program to smuggle revenue past the tax office. In total, more than 2.3 million euros in taxes are involved, which Schuhbeck is said to have evaded in 25 cases between 2009 and 2016.
The man who the public prosecutor believes is said to have developed this program is on trial together with Schuhbeck. He is accused of aiding and abetting tax evasion. He admitted the allegations at the beginning of the trial and made a confession through his lawyer. He stated that Schuhbeck commissioned him to develop the tool. He did this because he was economically dependent on him.
Schuhbeck’s lawyers do not deny that revenue was lost and taxes were evaded. They emphasize, however, that there are no indications or proof that the restaurateur even touched the till. In addition, the investigators had no answer as to where the millions in cash should have gone by which Schuhbeck is said to have reduced his income.
Schuhbeck appeared on Wednesday morning in a white shirt and dark blue jacket. He looked pale and battered as he entered the courtroom with his two lawyers and faced the cameras. He himself only confirmed his name, occupation and the names of his parents, but otherwise did not comment.
