The court will scrutinize the lapse in memory
In the ongoing saga surrounding the failed car toll project, German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer is currently undergoing a court examination due to memory gaps. This examination, however, is not related to the financial debacle of the car toll project itself.
Instead, the charges against Scheuer stem from allegations that he made false statements under oath before the Bundestag's committee of inquiry investigating the failed car toll. The specific accusation is that of uneidliche Falschaussage (false unsworn testimony), with Scheuer reportedly misleading the committee about whether there was an offer from the consortium to delay the contract conclusion pending the ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
Scheuer has denied these accusations, calling the timing and motive behind the charges incomprehensible and politically motivated. The car toll scheme, intended to charge foreign drivers on German highways, was ruled illegal by the ECJ in 2019, leaving the German state liable for compensation to the contractors (about 243 million euros).
Notably, this is not the first time Scheuer has been in the spotlight. As transport minister, he was responsible for the expensive mistake of the car toll policy's collapse. However, the present court examination is a separate issue, with Christian Gottschalk, a commentator, suggesting that what is being accused will be difficult to navigate.
The location of the examination is not specified, and it is not stated to be a trial. The reason for Scheuer's memory gaps remains unclear, as does the exact nature of the additional accusations against him, beyond the allegations of false testimony.
This development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing car toll project controversy, with Scheuer now facing criminal charges in addition to the financial fallout of the failed policy. The outcome of the court examination will undoubtedly be closely watched as the story continues to unfold.
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