Cum-Ex Investigation Against Former SPD Politician Johannes Kahrs Dropped

After four years of inquiry, prosecutors found no evidence to support charges of aiding tax evasion in the high-profile financial scandal.

The Cologne prosecutor's office has closed its investigation into former SPD Bundestag member Johannes Kahrs, citing insufficient evidence of wrongdoing.
Kahrs was accused of aiding severe tax evasion and favoritism in connection with the Cum-Ex scandal involving the Hamburg-based Warburg Bank.
Prosecutors determined there were no indications that Kahrs knowingly supported or condoned illegal bank transactions related to tax refunds.
Kahrs' legal team emphasized that the case was dismissed unconditionally, equating it to an acquittal in the investigation phase.
The broader Cum-Ex scandal, which exploited tax loopholes to claim illegitimate refunds, has cost the German government billions and continues to be the subject of ongoing investigations.