German Court Orders Retrial in €9.7 Million COVID Test Fraud Case
The Federal Court of Justice found legal errors in a Berlin court's ruling on one of the largest COVID test fraud cases in the city, requiring parts of the case to be reexamined.
- The Berlin court's 2023 ruling against a man and his sister for fraudulent COVID test claims has been partially overturned by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH).
- The man was originally sentenced to 8 years and 9 months in prison for 67 counts of serious fraud, while his sister received a suspended sentence for aiding in 17 counts.
- The pair falsely registered 18 locations as COVID test centers, claiming nearly €9.8 million for tests, many of which never occurred.
- The BGH identified inconsistencies in the lower court's assessment, including the validity of €64,000 claimed for actual tests, which may also involve fraud.
- A new trial will reassess the evidence, determine the legitimacy of the claims, and potentially revise the sentences for both defendants.
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