Corruption investigation into Upper Bavarian district administration
Munich II state prosecutor's office is investigating possible official misconduct in Upper Bavarian Ebersberg. Suspicions concern expenditures running into millions for training software and unauthorised budget items.
Corruption investigation into Upper Bavarian district administration
The Munich II justice authority is examining allegations against the administration of Ebersberg district. A spokesman announced on Friday that a preliminary investigation into official misconduct is underway. He declined to provide further information, citing the ongoing investigation.
Representatives of the district office initially made no statement. The authority had not yet received an official notification, a spokeswoman for the administration said. A statement is not expected before next week at the earliest.
Former district councillor Manfred Schmidt, who is expected to testify as a witness, provided details. Several transactions involving considerable sums of money are under examination. The investigation was apparently prompted by a report from a resident, who has already been questioned by the criminal police.
Particular attention is being paid to software for staff training. Licencing fees of 1.4 million euros flowed into it over a seven-year period. The municipal bodies had never been able to vote on these expenditures. Around twelve months ago, this prompted sharp criticism – both in the district council and from the Upper Bavarian district government. The administration chief Robert Niedergesäß was accused of spending public funds without authorisation.
The majority of the municipal representatives subsequently voted to approve the expenditure retrospectively and released the district administrator from personal repayment claims. At the recent election in spring, the CSU politician was confirmed in his post.
According to Schmidt, investigators are also examining items that the audit association for municipalities had already criticised in 2021. In addition, so-called reserves for special requests came under scrutiny. An annual budget of 50,000 euros was set aside for these, which went towards staff outings and celebrations – without a resolution from the elected representatives. Schmidt had complained to the district government, whereupon the practice was discontinued.
Source: Süddeutsche Zeitung
Source: Süddeutsche Zeitung