“Absurd and absurd”: Defense of ex-Wirecard boss Braun rejects allegations Corona wave rolls on: urgent to hospitals in China

In the Wirecard trial, the defense of accused ex-CEO Markus Braun categorically rejected the prosecution’s allegations. Lawyer Alfred Dierlamm on Monday called for proceedings to be suspended at the Munich I Regional Court, accusing the public prosecutor of serious errors in the investigation. “The bias against Dr. Braun is as unique as it is critical to this process.” The defense called the prosecution’s star witness completely unbelievable and accused him of being the main culprit.

The manager, together with two other former Wirecard directors, is accused of defrauding banks and other lenders of more than three billion euros using fictitious transactions. Defense attorney Dierlamm said Braun believed in the company and bought Wirecard shares for 2.5 million euros shortly before the collapse of the group. “It’s a bizarre and absurd idea that a gang leader would behave like this.”

According to the defense attorney, none of the 450 witnesses accused Braun. There is no email, no chat message that proves Braun was a perpetrator, Dierlamm said. For his part, the lawyer accused Oliver Bellenhaus, the co-defendant former general manager of Wirecard in Dubai, of having played a role in the embezzlement of billions. “Mr. Braun doesn’t appear in these shadow structures in any way.”

The fourth criminal chamber of the Munich I regional court opened the trial last week. The court has set more than 100 days for the trial and the trial is expected to last until 2024. (aeg/sda/awp/dpa)