Progress in the Wirecard Trial Remains Uncertain - 100 Days of Hearings Full of Mysteries

With the 100th day of negotiations in the Wirecard scandal, the incredible complexity of what may be the largest German fraud case in post-war history continues. For over 14 months now, the involved parties at the Munich I Regional Court have been grappling for clarity, and yet there is no end in sight, as recently announced by a court spokesperson. The stamina of the judges, lay judges, defense, and experts is therefore further tested - as is the patience of the three defendants. This time the focus was on the questioning of the former supervisory board member Anastassia Lauterbach, who had to fend off the same critical questions as her former colleagues. The crux of the matter was the relationship between the Wirecard executive board, supervisory board, and auditors. Particularly noteworthy was the lifting of the arrest warrant against the key witness Oliver Bellenhaus, which confirms Markus Braun as the only defendant in custody. Braun's representatives responded with sharp criticism and allegations of unspoken agreements. The occurrences of a suspicious nature in Wirecard's business activities are becoming increasingly uncontroversial. Thus, a witness connected via video from Bangkok claimed ignorance about the company, although her signature appears in official documents. A Japanese manager was astonished in court to have been involved in hundreds of Wirecard connections. Statements by key figures such as the former Supervisory Board Chairman Thomas Eichelmann or a manager from Visa suggest that corporate due diligence at Wirecard was handled rather laxly. However, the clarification of whether Braun is to be seen as a fraudster or a victim remains open. According to the prosecution, he was part of a group that only existed on paper with billions in sales. Supporting this theory: The purported revenues were supposedly channeled through three third-party companies. The defense of the former CEO counters that other actors were operating behind the scenes and calls for a differentiated picture. Recent witness testimonies reinforce doubts about the reality of Wirecard's business activities, especially concerning the Senjo Group. The missing billions also remain elusive for insolvency administrator Michael Jaffé - his statement is eagerly awaited in view of the convoluted case. But until then, all involved may have to remain patient, as the examination of the insolvency administrator is scheduled only towards the end of the evidentiary proceedings.