Equity - Millions of euros stolen in construction industry; defendants stay mute.
six people in their 30s and 40s, charged with not paying payroll taxes and social security contributions in the building sector, remained silent in court on the opening day of their case at the Bielefeld District Court. Their attorneys confirmed that the defendants would not immediately respond to the allegations. The prosecutor read the indictment, which went on for about 45 minutes, detailing how these individuals used an intricate corporate web to avoid paying around eight million euros to the tax office and different social insurance institutions.
The six suspects were accused of repeatedly creating new companies and employing straw figures as directors. They are suspected of deceiving the tax office and social security agencies about the identities of their workers and the work they were performing. Companies that aroused suspicion due to cash payments to workers were dismantled and then replaced by others.
In Germany, the Criminal Code suggests that, in the event of a conviction, one may face a fine or a maximum of five years in prison. The trial is scheduled to resume on June 21st, and the district court is anticipated to reach a verdict sometime in November.
