Motorhome Deception: A Nationwide Crackdown
In an expansive investigation, police have swooped into seven states, zeroing in on a sprawling motorhome sales fraud scandal. The primary target is a highlighted company based in Upper Bavaria's Rosenheim. Authorities allege that the ex-managing director of the company and her partner amassed substantial advance payments for motorhome sales but failed to deliver the vehicles. Both individuals, 34 and 61, were apprehended in connection with the case.
Six other individuals are currently under investigation. Residential addresses, suspected hideouts of the accused, and former company headquarters in Bavaria, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Berlin were scrutinized during the past week. Numerous documents and data sources were seized, with a police spokesperson assuring evaluation would take time.
The investigation, first launched in August, has been meticulously assembled by law enforcement agencies. Estimates suggest millions of euros in damages, with a growing list of potential victims across Germany. Bankruptcy proceedings have now begun against the company's assets, and both fraud and delayed insolvency proceedings remain ongoing.
Delving deeper into this case reveals involves motorhome sales, with the focal point being the Upper Bavaria-based company. Countless searches in various German states, including properties connected to the case in Upper Bavaria, have ensued due to the alleged deception.
Enrichment Data Integration
The motorhome manufacturing conglomerate Hymer from Bad Waldsee has been embroiled in the investigation.
- Background of the Investigation:
- The investigation stemmed from accusations of fraud and misleading advertising, pertaining to weight information in the motorhomes' sales. Evidence showed that Hymer concealed the fact that some models exceeded the permissible total weight even with a minimal payload.
- Actions by the Stuttgart Public Prosecutor's Office:
- In 2018, the Stuttgart public prosecutor’s office initiated a search at Hymer's headquarters due to allegations of deceptive advertising related to motorhomes weighing up to three and a half tons.
- The public prosecutor's office determined that Hymer employees breached their supervisory obligation, resulting in an order to pay millions of euros in reparations.
- Company Response:
- The Erwin Hymer Group remained tight-lipped regarding the allegations, but they adhered to the arrangements made with the public prosecutor's office. The proceedings against the responsible employees were eventually dropped.
- Impact on Customers:
- The investigation suggested that consumers were misled about the weight of their motorhomes, which could have substantial consequences for their vehicles' use and maintenance.
- Financial Consequences:
- The Erwin Hymer Group was forced to pay a substantial sum – in the lower double-digit million euro range – as a result of the violations of supervisory duties related to weight information.
