Summary
In a financial scandal involving church-owned funds used for US real estate projects, two men have been indicted by the Munich II Court. The case centers around loans of approximately 60 million US dollars made between 2014 and 2016 to US property development companies without adequate safeguards. Two individuals are accused of personal enrichment through misuse of their authority. The scandal began in January when the defendant, Helmut L., a 70-year-old US real estate developer, was absent due to illness but has since been declared fit for trial by a court-appointed expert. The other defendant, Stefan W., a former assistant to the finance department at Eichstätt’s diocese. The charges include embezzlement (22 cases), bribery (24 cases), and tax evasion (5 cases) against Helmut L., while he is accused of initiating or facilitating transactions for 25 instances of bribery, 24 instances of enticement to misbehave, and five instances of embezzlement. Stefan W. faces charges of 25 briberies, 24 instigations of embezzlement, and five cases of embezzlement. The state prosecutor claims both defendants accepted significant losses in church funds without proper oversight to secure economic advantages. As of now, approximately 35.25 million US dollars remain unrecoverable. The previous Bishop of Eichstätt, Gregor Maria Hanke, disclosed the scandal publicly in July 2017 and ordered an independent investigation. The case has led to disciplinary actions against Hanke himself, although he was not formally charged with any crime. Despite this, Hanke faced political and ecclesiastical pressure due to alleged inadequate oversight over the diocese’s finances.
Key Topics
Bistum Eichstätt, Helmut L., Stefan W.
