Unfaithfulness incitement charges being pursued further against O.B. Tim Kurzbach by prosecutors
In a significant development, the Public Prosecutor's Office Düsseldorf has confirmed a new criminal proceeding against the Mayor of Solingen, Tim Kurzbach (SPD). The investigations, which have been ongoing since January 24, 2025, are related to the "Luxury Smuggling Affair" and involve allegations of commercial and gang-related smuggling of foreigners, acceptance of bribes, and corruption.
The new criminal proceeding against Kurzbach is due to suspicion of incitement to breach of trust. A legal opinion commissioned by the Solingen CDU faction and later attached to a criminal complaint received by the Public Prosecutor's Office Wuppertal, has confirmed a suspicion in the new proceeding against Kurzbach. State Prosecutor Sterzel of the ZeOS NRW (Central and Contact Point for the Prosecution of Organized Crime in North Rhine-Westphalia) has also confirmed the suspicion of a criminal offence in the new proceeding.
The legal opinion accuses Kurzbach of attempting to settle his legal costs in the "smuggling affair" through the city treasury. Apart from Kurzbach, two other senior officials of the city of Solingen are also under investigation. The total costs for the first review period, as stated in the legal opinion, are said to amount to 210,167.09 euros.
In addition to Kurzbach, two senior female employees of the city of Solingen, including the 1st municipal deputy, Dagmar Becker (B90/Die Grünen), are also suspected of breach of trust. The Regional Government Düsseldorf has initiated further investigations against OB Kurzbach, and the investigations are being conducted by the Public Prosecutor's Office Wuppertal and the ZeOS NRW.
As of early August 2025, there are no publicly available or recent reports confirming the initiation or current status of any criminal proceedings against Mayor Tim Kurzbach (SPD) of Solingen for "suspicion of incitement to breach of trust" or related charges. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, checking official statements from the Solingen city administration or local judicial authorities would be advisable.
The new criminal proceeding against Tim Kurzbach, the Mayor of Solingen, involves suspicion of incitement to breach of trust, which is a serious allegation under the category of crime and justice. The regional government in Düsseldorf and the Public Prosecutor's Office Wuppertal are conducting further investigations into this matter, making it a significant development in both politics and general news.
