Cum-Ex Scandal: Deutsche Bank and WestLB Under Investigation as Cases Risk Expiration

German prosecutors accelerate efforts to file charges in the €10 billion tax fraud case, with looming statute of limitations threatening unresolved cases.

• The Cum-Ex tax fraud scandal, involving fraudulent dividend tax refunds, cost the German state over €10 billion between 2006 and 2011.
• German prosecutors are prioritizing cases at risk of expiring, with 34 of 130 ongoing investigations facing partial or full statute of limitations by the end of 2025.
• Deutsche Bank and the former WestLB are key targets in upcoming charges, alongside less prominent financial institutions and individuals.
• Efforts to recover illicitly obtained funds are ongoing, with prosecutors emphasizing the need to reclaim money for public services like schools and childcare.
• Despite 12 prior convictions, the complexity of cases and limited resources have slowed progress, with investigations expected to extend into the next decade.

3 Articles

RP ONLINE Die Rheinpfalz Der Tagesspiegel