Indictment - Defective masks worth 20 million euros sold
Two men and a woman will soon have to stand trial for allegedly selling defective protective masks worth around 20 million euros to bona fide third parties in the first year of the coronavirus pandemic. The public prosecutor's office in Schwerin has brought charges against a 55-year-old woman from Dresden, a 55-year-old man from Brandenburg and a 35-year-old man from Kiel for gang and commercial fraud in 116 cases.
Between March 2020 and December 2022, they allegedly imported protective equipment and medical products such as masks, protective suits and goggles in significant quantities from Vietnam and Turkey. It was clear to them that the goods did not comply with EU regulations because they had no or incorrect CE markings. Experts had examined the confiscated masks for the public prosecutor's office and had unanimously concluded that the products did not provide the required filter performance.
The public prosecutor' s office also accuses the trio of advertising their products in a newspaper. This unlawfully gave the impression that the masks can render bacterial and viral pathogens such as the coronavirus harmless. Several media outlets had previously reported this.
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- The woman and the two men are facing a heavy indictment for their alleged involvement in selling defective protective masks worth approximately 20 million euros during the initial year of the Coronavirus pandemic.
- Despite knowing that the protective equipment, including masks, did not comply with EU regulations due to missing or incorrect CE markings, the trio from Dresden, Brandenburg, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern continued to sell them to unsuspecting third parties.
- A public prosecutor's office in Schwerin has filed charges against the 55-year-old woman from Dresden, a 55-year-old man from Brandenburg, and a 35-year-old man from Kiel for gang and commercial fraud in 116 cases involved with defective protective masks.
- To mislead potential buyers, the trio advertised their products in a newspaper, implying that the masks could neutralize bacterial and viral pathogens such as the Coronavirus, a claim that was deemed unlawful.
- The public prosecutor's office in Saxony has expressed concern that the defective masks may have posed a risk to the general public, potentially failing to provide adequate protection during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
- In an effort to protect the public, law enforcement in Brandenburg and Schleswig-Holstein have seized substantial quantities of the defective masks and other medical equipment.
- While the trio's alleged criminality has raised concerns and demands for accountability, legal processes will need to run their course to determine the exact nature of their involvement in the sale of defective protective equipment.
- It is essential to remain vigilant when purchasing protective masks and medical equipment, taking measures to ensure that the products comply with relevant regulations and have proper certification, such as the CE marking.
Source: www.stern.de
