It had been on the horizon for a long time, now it is official: The Munich I public prosecutor’s office has suspended the investigation on suspicion of embezzlement and breach of trust against the former president of the Bavarian Hunting Association (BJV) and long-time CSU member of the state parliament Jürgen Vocke against a monetary condition. This ends the criminal part of the massive dispute in the BJV over the years of financial conduct of the former hunter president. The public prosecutor’s office was silent about the amount of the money.
Vocke, who also did not name her, spoke in an initial reaction of a “great satisfaction”. He is very happy “that the whole thing is over now,” said the 78-year-old lawyer of the SZ. Although he was always very sure that all allegations were unfounded and that that would come out in the end. “Because those were all obscure suspicions and grotesque stories,” says Vocke. But still they would have weighed heavily on him and his family all the time. “I’m in the process of stabilizing myself,” said Vocke. “And of course I am very grateful when peace returns.”
Vocke was President of the Bavarian Hunting Association for almost 26 years – from 1994 to 2020. However, due to the dispute over his management style and financial conduct, he suspended the office since October 2019. At the same time, he declared that he would not be re-elected and withdrew from the life of the association. The allegations were essentially about the 5000 euro expense allowance that Vocke received monthly tax-free and without social security contributions for his voluntary work, his company car, and the employment of a family member at a subsidiary of the hunting association. The talk was of a total damage of up to 450,000 euros for the BJV. Investigations by the public prosecutor began when a senior official reported Vocke to the allegations.
There is now great relief in the hunting association. BJV President Ernst Weidenbusch, who has led the organization since December 2020, was very pleased about the termination of the investigation against his predecessor. “Nothing stands in the way of the final conclusion of this ugly chapter in the history of our association and the rehabilitation of the long-time president,” said Weidenbusch, who is also a member of the CSU and a member of the state parliament. One can be reassured that “the partly inconsiderate and unfounded, denouncing accusations” have not been confirmed. Weidenbusch announced an “appreciation of Vocke’s life’s work”.
However, the audit of the BJV by the tax authorities has not yet been completed. According to auditors, who were involved by the then presidium in the course of the dispute, the non-profit status of the BJV might even be at risk because of Vocke’s financial conduct. In addition, it was said at the time, the BJV could be forced to file recourse claims against Vocke. A tax audit by the BJV is currently in progress. “The tax authorities have requested the investigation files from the public prosecutor’s office,” said Weidenbusch about this complex. “That’s why the exam has not yet been completed.” One will wait for the test result and, if necessary, act accordingly. At the moment, however, the BJV leadership does not assume that the association will raise claims against Vocke. Regarding any claims against Vocke, Weidenbusch said “that these were alleged by the old presidium, but never asserted”. At the same time, the BJV president pointed out that Vocke “voluntarily declared a waiver of the statute of limitations so that the association would not suffer any damage”. In addition, it was said from the presidium that there were no indications that the non-profit status of the BJV was in danger. Vocke himself was confident that “nothing will come out” of the current tax audit.
The Bavarian Hunting Association is the largest hunting organization in the Free State. According to its own information, around 50,000 of the currently around 75,000 Bavarian hunters are organized in it. Vocke, who lives in the district of Ebersberg, has held numerous other functions in hunting institutions and foundations in addition to the BJV presidency.