Perjury allegation denied by ex-Minister Scheuer - Former Minister Scheuer denies charge of fabricated testimony
In a recent development, former German Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer has been charged with perjury by the Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office. The charges are related to his testimony before the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee regarding the controversial and ultimately failed car toll (PKW-Maut) scheme.
The allegations concern a statement Scheuer made to the investigation committee in 2020, which prosecutors claim was deliberately false. The indictment was formally filed against Scheuer, but he has denied the allegations, stating that he intends to defend himself against the charges. Scheuer regards the indictment as politically motivated.
The car toll system, which was struck down by the European Court of Justice in 2019, was a contentious issue due to its practice of charging only foreign drivers. The toll's failure led to substantial state compensation payments to the contracted toll operator, payments the government had tried to avoid. The inquiry committee was established to investigate the failures and mismanagement surrounding this project.
Interestingly, the Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office also initiated an investigation against Scheuer's former colleague, CSU politician and former State Secretary in the Ministry of Transport Gerhard Schulz, on suspicion of perjury in May 2022. Both Scheuer and Schulz have been charged in connection with the failed car toll.
In an interview with "Bild", Scheuer described the indictment as "incomprehensible". His lawyer, Daniel Krause, has confirmed that Scheuer denies the allegation of perjury. Scheuer has also stated that he will not make any further statements regarding the allegations.
The Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office has stated that there is sufficient evidence that Scheuer and Schulz had made false statements under oath. The current status of the investigation is that the case is ongoing, with both men preparing to defend themselves against the charges.
This news comes as a significant turn of events in the ongoing saga surrounding the failed car toll scheme and the subsequent investigations into the mismanagement and false testimony that surrounded it. As the story unfolds, more details are expected to emerge, shedding light on the intricacies of the case and the roles of those involved.
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