Bribes accepted: Suspended sentence for health insurance company employee

Bribes accepted: Suspended sentence for health insurance company employee

The defendant, who was responsible for financial investments at the health insurance company, was accused in the trial of having collected more than 2.2 million euros in bribes for the subscription of certain financial investment products. According to the indictment, the money was allegedly paid by a former employee of a major bank.

Another witness, who is said to have worked as an investment advisor for the health insurance company until the end of 2012 and then as an independent broker, is also alleged to have paid bribes. According to the indictment, the condition was that the defendant would advocate the subscription of the investment products they offered. The payments are said to have been made between 2013 and 2019.

According to the public prosecutor's office, the accused, who was 58 at the start of the trial, worked for the health insurance company as a group leader until the end of 2017. His task was to scout the market for potential financial investments. He either concluded some of the investments himself or presented them to his superiors with a recommendation.

The investments were allegedly financed with money from the compulsory contributions of health insurance fund members. The accused later continued this activity as a freelance consultant.

Read also:

• This will change in December
• German activists speak out in Dubai on suffering in Israel and the Gaza Strip
• Nuclear fusion - hype or solution to energy problems?
• Budget crisis fuels debate on citizen's income - Bas warns against populism

1. Despite the evidence of millions in bribes accepted, the health insurance company employee received a suspended prison sentence for his role in the scheme.
2. The defendant, who had been accused of collecting bribes for the subscription of investment products, ultimately accepted a suspended sentence from the Bielefeld regional court.
3. The million-euro amount of bribe money paid to the employee was a significant factor in the court's decision, leading to a lenient sentence of a suspended prison term.
4. The former bank employee, who was alleged to have paid bribes to the health insurance company employee, was not mentioned in the court's decision, as no charges were brought against them.
5. The health insurance company confirmed that they would be terminating the accused employee's employment and initiating appropriate disciplinary measures, in addition to cooperating fully with the investigation.
6. The regional court's decision to accept a suspended sentence for the employee highlighted the need for stricter oversight and penalties for companies and employees involved in bribery and corruption, with a focus on protecting the interests of health insurance fund members.

Source: www.stern.de