Municipalities - Disciplinary proceedings against Bitterfeld's mayor could continue
The processing of disciplinary complaints against Bitterfeld-Wolfen's Mayor Armin Schenk of the CDU party may be resumed soon. The district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld requested a status report and access to the files from the prosecutor's office in response to an inquiry from the German Press Agency. The proceedings against the municipal politician, who has been the mayor of the city in the Anhalt-Bitterfeld district since 2017, have been ongoing since August 2023. He is accused of causing damage to the city through a land exchange with a company. Later, the allegation emerged that Schenk had violated the neutrality rule during the election campaign. This was linked to the existing disciplinary proceedings.
No sufficient suspicion of wrongdoing
The Dessau-Roßlau Public Prosecutor's Office had investigated Schenk on suspicion of embezzlement. However, the proceedings were discontinued. An appeal was filed, and the Naumburg General Public Prosecutor's Office was asked about it. They confirmed that the appeal had been rejected. Although there had been witness interviews, no sufficient suspicion of wrongdoing had been established. The case is therefore legally closed there.
Bitterfeld-Wolfen, with a population of 37,000, is located in southeastern Sachsen-Anhalt and is known as a site for the chemical industry. The district is responsible for managing the disciplinary proceedings.
In April of this year, it was reported from the district that the proceedings against Schenk had been temporarily suspended. It was waited for a final decision from the General Public Prosecutor's Office. Now, a spokesperson told the dpa: "If it is confirmed that the reason for the suspension of the disciplinary proceedings has fallen away, the disciplinary proceedings will be resumed immediately."
- The resumption of disciplinary proceedings against Armin Schenk, the CDU mayor of Bitterfeld-Wolfen, could occur following a report from the General Public Prosecutor's Office in Anhalt-Bitterfeld.
- The decision to resume the disciplinary proceedings against Schenk hinges on the confirmation that the reason for their suspension no longer applies.
- Prior to the suspension, the proceedings against Schenk had been ongoing since August 2023 due to allegations of causing damage to the city through a land exchange with a company.
- The German Press Agency had initiated an inquiry leading to the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld's request for a status report and access to the files from the Public Prosecutor's Office.
- Bitterfeld-Wolfen, a city in southeastern Sachsen-Anhalt with a population of 37,000, is known for its chemical industry, and the district manages the disciplinary proceedings against its mayors.
- Despite initial suspicions of embezzlement, the Dessau-Roßlau Public Prosecutor's Office discontinued the proceedings against Schenk, and the subsequent appeal was also rejected by the Naumburg General Public Prosecutor's Office.
