In the Wirecard trial, the defense of the accused ex-CEO Markus Braun categorically rejected the allegations of the prosecution. Lawyer Alfred Dierlamm called for the proceedings to be suspended before the Munich I Regional Court on Monday and accused the public prosecutor’s office of serious errors in the investigation.
“The prejudice against Doctor Braun is as unique as it is formative for this process.” The defense attacked the prosecutor’s key witness as completely unbelievable and accused him of being the main culprit.
The manager, along with two other former Wirecard executives, is accused of cheating banks and other lenders out of more than three billion euros with the help of fictitious transactions. Defender Dierlamm said that Braun believed in the company and bought Wirecard shares for 2.5 million euros shortly before the collapse of the group. “It’s an outlandish and absurd idea that a gang leader would act like that.”
According to the defense attorney, none of the 450 witnesses heard accused Braun. There is no email, no chat message that proves Braun was a perpetrator, said Dierlamm. For his part, the lawyer accused Oliver Bellenhaus, the co-defendant former Wirecard managing director in Dubai, of having been instrumental in the embezzlement of billions. “Mr. Braun does not appear in these shadow structures in any way.”
The fourth criminal chamber of the Munich I Regional Court opened the process last week. The court has set a good 100 days for the process, and the process is expected to last until 2024.
