Illegal cargo transfer event - The mayor of Solingen is being probed as well.
Kurzbach maintained his innocence, claiming that he was being framed as an accomplice by another suspect. This allegation doesn't match the facts. He swiftly submitted a request to the Düsseldorf government president for a disciplinary action against himself. There's no confirmation or denial yet from the public prosecutor's office regarding their investigation of Kurzbach.
A probe is also ongoing against the Solingen Foreigners' Office's official, who made the announcement on Thursday. Despite the claims, there weren't any illegal residence permits issued in Solingen. He remains confident that he can clear his name.
Authorities suspect a smuggling network responsible for helping wealthy individuals from China and Oman obtain residency permits for Germany. A nationwide police operation took place in April, involving searches in eight federal states.
Investigators believe that civil servants in various authorities could have been bribed by the alleged smugglers to issue residence permits for their clients.
The director of the Solingen Economic Development Agency was placed on leave last week, implicated in this intricate case. The Düsseldorf Public Prosecutor's Office is also investigating the Düren district administrator, Wolfgang Spelthahn, on charges of bribery.
In total, the Public Prosecutor's Office is looking into 58 suspects and 147 individuals believed to have illegally acquired residence permits through the smugglers.
North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister, Herbert Reul (CDU), found himself in an explanation bind amid the scandal, as one of the suspected smuggling ring leaders had donated a total of 30,000 euros to his campaign and met with him on several occasions. Reul maintained that he was unaware of the donations.
North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister, Herbert Reul (CDU), was dragged into an explanation quagmire by the scandal. Allegedly, one of the suspected ring leaders had donated 30,000 euros to Reul's campaign and had met him multiple times. Reul insisted that he was completely oblivious to the donations.
