The Schlecker family is set to return millions of dollars.
The defunct Schlecker pharmacy chain still reigns in the courts, as several family members are now required to repay a staggering loan of over 1.35 million euros over a decade after the insolvency proceedings began. The Zwickau-based company, Meniar, lent the money to the conglomerate in 2011, with Meniar serving as a temporary worker provider for the Schlecker pharmacy chain in Ehingen, Baden-Württemberg. According to the Zwickau District Court, the loan was repaid by Meniar shortly before the insolvency proceedings commenced. As the judgment is not yet legally binding, it will need to go through the legal process before being enforced.
It is claimed that the former Managing Director of Meniar, who served as a surrogate for the Schlecker family, deceptively orchestrated the situation. Now, the ex-MD, his wife, and children of Schlecker's founder, Anton Schlecker, have been ordered to repay the loan and its accumulated interest.
Schlecker goes bust in 2012
The Schlecker pharmacy chain stopped operating in 2012, leaving around 25,000 employees, most of whom were women, out of work. To re-employ these former Schlecker staff as temporary workers for lower salaries, Meniar was founded in 2008. However, the 'revolving door effect' was outlawed by the 2011 law against the abuse of temporary work, often referred to as the "Lex Schlecker."
After the Schlecker company collapsed, its founders, Anton Schlecker and his children, Lars and Meike, faced legal consequences. Lars and Meike were both sentenced to two years and seven months in prison for embezzlement, insolvency, bankruptcy, and aiding and abetting bankruptcy. Interestingly, Anton Schlecker managed to avoid jail time, receiving probation instead.
At its peak, the Schlecker pharmacy chain employed over 50,000 people and had over 14,000 stores across Europe, making it a major player in the European pharmacy market. Despite the financial woes of their business, these wealthy drugstore magnates managed to hold onto millions of euros.
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Due to their involvement in the repayment of the 1.35 million euro loan given to the Schlecker conglomerate by Meniar, Meike Schlecker and her family members, including Lars Schlecker and the children of the chain's founder, Anton Schlecker, are now required to contribute to this financial obligation.
Despite the Schlecker pharmacy chain's insolvency in 2012, which led to the closure of over 14,000 stores and left thousands of employees, including Meike and Lars Schlecker, without a job, the Schlecker family managed to retain significant wealth.
Source: www.ntv.de
