Tackling the Case of Tengelmann's Missing Billionaire: Mounting Pressure on Cologne's Prosecutor's Office
In an alarming turn of events, RTL journalist Liv von Boetticher and criminal lawyer Julia von Dreden have filed a complaint against the Cologne Public Prosecutor's Office. The complaint targets the investigation into the enigmatic disappearance of Karl-Erivan Haub, the billionaire heir of the Tengelmann conglomerate.
The complaint urges the authorities to launch formal investigation proceedings against Christian Haub, the younger brother of the missing business magnate. The central accusation is that Christian Haub provided a false affidavit, claiming he had no indication or evidence that his brother was still alive when he declared this in May 2021. Julia von Dreden, the counsel, dismisses this assertion as "absolutely unrealistic," given the elapsed time since Karl-Erivan's disappearance in 2018.
According to RTL, the investigation into the potential false affidavit has been refuted by other documents. Despite the controversial evidence, Cologne's public prosecutor's office still does not see an initial presumption of a criminal offense. Von Dreden questions the senior public prosecutor's effectiveness, stating bluntly that it's "more than just doubtful" if they have even given the case adequate attention.
Karl-Erivan Haub's enigmatic disappearance during a ski trip on the Matterhorn in 2018 was declared a death by the Cologne District Court in May 2021. Research from stern and RTL suggests that the former Tengelmann boss may still be alive, with indications that he was temporarily in Moscow in 2021. Rumors persist that Haub may have intentionally staged his disappearance in Zermatt to embark on a new life in Russia.
Editor's Note: stern is in fact part of RTL Germany.
Additional Insights
- In the complaint, the lawyers demand that the investigation into Karl-Erivan Haub's disappearance be revisited, and they hope this re-examination may shed more light on the mysterious case.
- If the affidavit is determined to be false, it could greatly impact the inheritance deal that was finalized within the Tengelmann group of companies with Karl-Erivan Haub's brother, Christian, as its new head.
Reportedly, the public prosecutor's office is yet to respond formally to the complaint. Stay tuned for further developments in this captivating case.
