A police officer who applied for and received emergency corona aid of 5,000 euros has been found guilty of fraud. The District Court of Berlin-Tiergarten imposed a fine of 4,500 euros on the 43-year-old on Thursday.
In April 2020, the police chief inspector reportedly told the investment bank in Berlin that he worked full-time with a sole proprietorship in the field of financial and insurance services. In fact, it was a part-time job, said the presiding judge.
The court also ordered the confiscation of the 5,000 euros. The deed shows an “increased social harm”, the judgment continued – “tapping money where the state quickly provides funds so that the needy are not left out in the rain”.
According to the indictment, the 43-year-old, who has been working full-time for the Berlin police for more than 20 years, had two sideline jobs with four hours a week and a monthly income totaling 450 euros. As a police officer, he received monthly payments of around 3,500 euros. According to the indictment, the subsidy was not necessary to secure his economic existence.
The chief inspector has been suspended from duty since June 2021 due to suspicion of fraud with reduced salaries. He rejected the allegations before the district court. “He is convinced that all the information in the application form was true,” said the defense attorney.
From his point of view, it was a main trade because he worked more than 15 hours a week for it. The official said there has been significant investment, but orders have been lacking. He has always performed his duties as a police officer to his satisfaction.
