Protest movement "Querdenken" leader Ballweg found not guilty of fraud allegations
Michael Ballweg Acquitted of Main Fraud Charges, Found Guilty of Tax Evasion
Michael Ballweg, the founder of the "Querdenken" movement, has seen a mixed verdict in a trial that began in October 2024 at the Stuttgart Regional Court. Ballweg was acquitted of fraud charges but found guilty of tax evasion, receiving a warning instead of a prison sentence.
The prosecution had demanded a three-year prison sentence and the confiscation of over half a million euros, alleging that Ballweg improperly used these funds. However, Ballweg and his defense denied all accusations, arguing that he incurred losses and lacked intent to defraud.
The trial was marked by several significant developments. Important tax-relevant documents were seized, and Ballweg lacked access to the digital tax portal (Elster) while imprisoned, leading to missed tax return deadlines. Despite thorough investigations and searches, no incriminating evidence was found on his computer, and even a preparatory meeting for the house search remained partly concealed from the defense.
An unusual turn of events occurred when it was revealed that the tax authorities eventually refunded Ballweg about 200,000 euros, indicating overpayment, which contradicted the prosecution’s portrayal of him as a "thorough tax evader."
As the trial progressed, the court dismissed the prosecution’s attempt to introduce further evidence of tax evasion after finding no serious intent demonstrated. Regarding appeals or further legal procedures, the search results do not explicitly mention any appeal filed by either party after the trial verdict.
The court found Ballweg guilty of tax evasion in two cases and attempted tax evasion in three cases. Ballweg spent several months in pre-trial detention from June 2022 due to ongoing investigations. The verdict is not yet final, and the public prosecutor's office has expressed its intention to consider appealing the verdict.
The trial, which heard 80 witnesses and read out 2,200 documents during the 44 trial days, has been a highly scrutinized event. Ballweg's defense has consistently rejected the accusations from the beginning. Ballweg, expressing satisfaction with the court's decision, stated that the "fairy tales" of the public prosecutor's office had collapsed.
Despite the mixed verdict, Ballweg believes that authorities should handle tax money carefully to avoid politically motivated proceedings. Ballweg was ordered to pay compensation for 279 days in pre-trial detention and damages resulting from the seizure of his assets and search measures.
The differences between the chamber and the public prosecutor's office regarding the classification of facts have been noted. The judges could not prove intent against Ballweg, which led to the proposal to acquit him of the main fraud charges. This case reflects a complex and heavily scrutinized trial with the court mitigating the fraud allegations, confirming only minor tax evasion with a mild penalty, and the prosecution’s efforts being partially undercut by contradictory evidence including tax refunds.
- Michael Ballweg's trial, under the categories of general-news and politics, saw a mixed verdict as he was acquitted of fraud charges but found guilty of tax evasion.
- Despite the charges of crime-and-justice against him, Ballweg argues that authorities should handle taxes carefully to prevent politically motivated proceedings.
