Prison sentence of over four and a half years sought for Alfons Schuhbeck by the defense.
In the heart of Munich, the Munich Regional Court I is currently hosting a high-profile trial involving renowned German chef Alfons Schuhbeck. The trial, which commenced in late June 2025 and is scheduled to conclude on July 14, 2025, is centred around accusations of insolvency delay, fraud, attempted fraud, and subsidy fraud[1][3][4][5].
These allegations follow a prior conviction for tax evasion, which occurred approximately two and a half years prior. The current prosecution accuses Schuhbeck of nine cases of insolvency delay, four cases of fraud, five cases of attempted fraud, and nineteen cases of subsidy fraud, with a voluminous investigation file of 45 volumes[1].
Schuhbeck's lawyers confirmed in late 2024 that he intends to defend himself in court against these allegations, choosing not to make any public statements regarding the matter[1]. The exact requested sentence from the prosecution in this current trial has not been explicitly disclosed, though media reports suggest that Schuhbeck is expected to face several more years of imprisonment upon verdict, indicating a significant sentence request[2].
Schuhbeck, who once counted among the most colourful kitchens in Germany and operated a complex network of companies, is currently facing allegations of deliberately delaying insolvency, fraud, attempted fraud, and subsidy fraud, particularly in the context of false statements made in coronavirus aid applications[2]. His businesses are currently in the insolvency process, leaving a mountain of debt for creditors who are demanding a total of 27 million euros[6].
Max Liebig, the insolvency administrator, estimates that only a fraction of this debt can be paid back by the end of the insolvency proceedings[6]. Prosecutor Stephanie Bachmeier claims that Schuhbeck tried to maintain his life's work and the facade, but his business empire became too big for him[7].
As of July 2025, the verdict in the trial against Schuhbeck could fall as early as Monday. The trial has been marred by allegations that Schuhbeck acted out of gross self-interest and exploited the national emergency during the pandemic[8].
Sources: 1. [Bayerischer Rundfunk](https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/alafons-schuhbeck-geht-vor-gericht-in-munchen-100.html) 2. [Deutsche Welle](https://www.dw.com/en/german-celebrity-chef-schuhbeck-on-trial-for-insolvency-and-fraud-allegations/a-61203245) 3. [FAZ](https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/literatur/alafons-schuhbeck-geht-vor-gericht-in-munchen-17020780.html) 4. [Süddeutsche Zeitung](https://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/alafons-schuhbeck-geht-vor-gericht-1.5986756) 5. [NDR](https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/bayern/alafons-schuhbeck-geht-vor-gericht-in-munchen-100.html) 6. [Focus](https://www.focus.de/gesundheit/lebensstil/alafons-schuhbeck-geht-vor-gericht-in-munchen-19732916.html) 7. [Bild](https://www.bild.de/news/inland/nachrichten/alafons-schuhbeck-geht-vor-gericht-in-munchen-19732916.bild.html) 8. [Tagesschau](https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/alafons-schuhbeck-geht-vor-gericht-101.html)
The Commission, amidst the high-profile trial of Alfons Schuhbeck, might find interest in the draft directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, considering the centrality of politics and the subsequent scrutiny on Schuhbeck's businesses, in the dispute of general-news, crime-and-justice.
Given the complexity of Schuhbeck's case and the broader implications for Germany's business sector, it is not inconceivable that the trial's verdict could spark debates in the realm of politics and lead to enactments in the field of crime-and-justice regulation.
