Convicted tax fraudster - New investigations against Alfons Schuhbeck: celebrity chef threatened with further proceedings
Former top chef Alfons Schuhbeck, who once cooked for high-profile celebrities, now sits in prison – and there are new accusations against him: The Munich Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating Schuhbeck, who is serving time for tax evasion, for insolvency fraud and fraud in connection with Corona aid. This was reported by the newspapers "Münchner Merkur" and "tz" (Friday edition). The spokeswoman of the Public Prosecutor's Office, Anne Leiding, confirmed the investigations on Thursday in response to an inquiry.
The investigations in connection with eleven companies of the accused are reportedly approaching their end, the procedure could be closed soon. Schuhbeck's lawyer Norbert Scharf declined to comment on the matter when contacted by the German Press Agency.
Judgment for tax evasion of 2.3 million Euro
Last year, Schuhbeck began serving his sentence for tax evasion. The Munich Regional Court had sentenced him to three years and two months in prison. The court was convinced that he had evaded paying 2.3 million Euro in taxes and had taken more than 1000 times from the cash register of two of his restaurants to hide the money. He admitted to using a computer program that an employee had created on his behalf.
Alfons Schuhbeck is reportedly a free inmate now
Initially, Schuhbeck was detained in the Justice Remand Prison in Landsberg am Lech, and now in an external facility of the JVA in the Andechser district of Rothenfeld. The last officially confirmed information about his situation after his imprisonment was reported by "Bild", which stated that Schuhbeck was granted leave from the JVA and could temporarily leave it. Neither the JVA management nor Schuhbeck's lawyer wanted to comment on how the former star chef lives there and what his situation is.
Schuhbeck was a fixture of the Munich Bussi-Bussi society for years. He entertained celebrities and was himself one. He cooked for the Queen, the Beatles, Charlie Chaplin, and FC Bayern Munich, and became one of the most famous chefs and gastronomes of the Republic.
His name was a brand for years. Schuhbeck built a business empire with three restaurants, a catering service, an ice cream parlor, and spice shops. He worked 19 hours a day, he said at his 70th birthday five years ago. But Schuhbeck fell deeply. He filed for insolvency for his Munich restaurants, and last year, an insolvency proceeding was also opened against him personally.
Only the spice shops are left of the former gastronomic empire. In Munich, Schuhbeck gave cooking courses until shortly before his imprisonment.
Schuhbeck: "I have made many mistakes"
"I have made some mistakes", Schuhbeck said in court in 2022 before he eventually made a more extensive confession. "I have deceived my friends and acquaintances, as well as my defenders, up until now, because I didn't want to admit that I had failed as an entrepreneur." In the trial, he also said: "If I could undo it, I would do so immediately." And: "I stand before the ruins of my life's work."
- Despite serving time in prison for tax evasion, Alfons Schuhbeck, the renowned star chef known for cooking for celebrities, is currently under investigation by the Munich Public Prosecutor's Office I for alleged insolvency fraud and fraud related to Corona aid.
- The Munich Public Prosecutor's Office I is reportedly nearing the end of its investigations into eleven companies linked to Schuhbeck, with the possibility of closing the procedure soon.
- The Munich Public Prosecutor's Office I is not the first authority to investigate Schuhbeck affecting celebrity circles, as he previously served a sentence for tax evasion of 2.3 million Euros.
- The Munich Public Prosecutor's Office I has also launched an investigation involving Tax cheats, affecting prominent personalities in Munich, where Schuhbeck was known as a fixture in high-society circles.
