suspicion of fraud - Mischief in Climate Protection Projects? - Searches
In response to suspected fraudulent activities in Climate Protection Projects that mineral oil companies aim to use to improve their carbon balance, police have searched companies in North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria. According to the Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office, numerous documents were seized from the companies' premises in Kerpen, Cologne, and Langenbach last Friday.
Over 1.12 Million Euros in Damages
The agency stated, according to a spokesperson, that 17 employees are being investigated for suspected commercial fraud. The managing directors of the companies and employees from testing stations are among those targeted. The suspicion is that false statements were made to the German Emissions Trading Office (DEHSt) regarding the aforementioned matters. According to the current status, five projects are affected. A damage of over 1.12 Million Euros is believed to have occurred.
The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) filed a complaint with the Public Prosecutor's Office at the end of May. The agency based in Dessau-Roßlau, Sachsen-Anhalt, had previously examined tips about projects in China.
Certificates from German Certification Institutes
The mineral oil industry uses projects to reduce emissions to fulfill legal climate protection regulations. They are certified by German certification institutes and approved by the UBA. A falsification of the projects could mean that the carbon balance of the German transport sector is even worse than previously assumed.
After the ZDF reported on the alleged fraud cases, the UBA spoke of an internal investigation. The spokesperson of the agency stated at the end of May that they had requested assistance from Chinese authorities. "We have to do this because we have no jurisdiction in China." The complaint to the Public Prosecutor's Office was filed due to all potential offenses related to the projects carried out in China. The UBA has different investigation methods compared to the Public Prosecutor's Office.
- The suspected fraudulent activities in Climate Protection Projects have raised concerns about criminality in the mineral oil industry.
- The Public Prosecutor's Office in Berlin is now handling a Fraud case involving multiple companies in North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria.
- The Saxony-Anhalt-based Federal Environmental Agency (UBA) played a crucial role in bringing this issue to light, having initially investigated tips about projects in China.
- The UBA's investigation revealed numerous documents suggesting commercial fraud, leading to the involvement of the Public Prosecutor's Office.
- The investigation targets 17 employees, including managing directors and employees from testing stations, due to false statements made to the DEHSt.
- This fraudulent activity is believed to have affected five Climate Protection Projects, potentially causing over 1.12 Million Euros in damages.
- The falsification of these projects could negatively impact Germany's carbon balance, making the situation in the German transport sector even worse.
- The UBA has already initiated an internal investigation after the ZDF reported on the alleged fraud cases, and they have sought assistance from Chinese authorities due to their lack of jurisdiction in China.
- The police search in Kerpen, Cologne, and Langenbach last Friday was a significant step in the investigation, as numerous documents were seized from the companies' premises.
- Despite the ongoing investigation, the Public Prosecutor's Office in Berlin and the UBA in Saxony-Anhalt remain committed to ensuring justice and upholding environmental regulations in Germany and beyond.
